Courtship and Constraint: Rethinking the Making of Marriage in Tudor England

by Diana O'Hara

The first study of early modern English courtship as a subject in its own right. New historical and anthropological insights into the making of marriage, and an arresting and exciting contribution to the history of the family. Takes the interpretation of the English church court material to a new level of sophistication. Explores new or neglected subjects such as the use of gifts or tokens and the role of go-betweens in English courtship. The fresh and wholly original perspectives on English courtship offered here should redirect and revitalise the history of marriage in early modern England.

Genres: Tudor Period

288 pages, Paperback

First published May 5, 2000

Reviews

[Katheryn Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Courtship and Constraint sets out to challenge the assumption that individual freedom of choice of marriage partners increased as social status diminished; arguing that few individuals married without close regard of property and their financial well-being post-marriage. Although I think that assumption has now been overturned, the usefulness of O'Hara's awareness of the bounds within which marriage choices were made remains.

O'Hara shows that courtship is a fruitful, and neglected, topic, and I love her specific focus on kin and community, gifts and tokens, agents and intermediaries, geographical boundaries, and timings and age expectations. Courtship and Constraint feels a little outdated, and is also a little off-subject for my specific interests, hence the three stars rather than four. But I'm really glad that I took the time to read this one, and I think it raises a lot of interesting questions and makes a lot of great points.