Roderick Phillips

Rather academic but readable history of divorce. I've always wondered why it's so easy to get married, and torturous to get divorced; as usual, the history explains it. The first couple of chapters outline the origins of marriage, the Catholic church's huge role in the institution, and the Protestant reformation's effects. These chapters alone are worth the price of the book. For most of the last millennium, marriage's primary purposes were for nonsinful sexual activity and procreation as God had intended. Until the late 1600's adultory for punishable by death but for the next couple of hundred years people began having second thoughts and religions heartily debated the topic. For instance, John Calvin was annoyed he even had to deal with the issue. As far as he was concerned, if the death penalty for adultery had not been abolished, there would be no need for divorce. The middle section is a bit dry but it picks up again when we enter the 20th century. For anyone who questions the everyday institutions we all take for granted, this is an illuminating read. As a woman, I also find it depressing that it has taken thousands years to come close to not being someone's property, useful for sex and domestic chores. But the reality is both men and women are dealt some very bad deals in the history of marriage...and the legacy continues. Despite my own unusually happy marriage, I would prefer my own adult children think more than twice about marriage.… (mer)