Between Betrothal and Bedding

Korpiola (legal history, University of Helsinki) has researched the marriage customs in Sweden from the thirteenth century to the beginning of the seventeenth. The impact of developing Christian doctrine on marriage was slow in reaching Sweden and pre-Christian traditions of secular marriage were retained for centuries. Korpiola explains that there were several steps between the betrothal and the formal wedding that could take more than a year, during which time the couple often cohabitated. Using many examples from legal disputes and chronicles, Korpiola demonstrates the variations in forming a marriage, from secret agreements to impediments to marriage to deciding the legitimacy of children. The cases given emphasize the complexity of any attempt, religious or secular, to control this most basic of human activities. To this is added the legal paradox that women are sometimes considered people and sometimes property. By taking her study through the Reformation, Korpiola adds a dimension rarely considered. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

General

ISBN		9789004173293
Fiction/Non-Fiction		Non-Fiction
Publisher		Brill Academic Pub
Pages		437
List Price		$212.00
Author		Korpiola, Mia
Publication Date		02/28/2009
Release Status		In Print
Format		Hardcover
Language		English
Measurements		Height: 9.5 Inches (US) Width: 6.5 Inches (US) Thickness: 1 Inches (US) Unit Weight: 1.95 Pounds (US)
Series		The Northern World