Courting : an intimate history of love and the law
Simmonds, Alecia2023
Book
Alecia Simmonds uncovers a hidden history of love and heartbreak in the archives of law. Until well into the twentieth century, heartbroken men and women in Australia had a legal redress for their suffering: jilted lovers could claim compensation for 'breach of promise to marry'. Hundreds of people, mostly from the working classes, came before the courts, and their stories give us a tantalising insight into the romantic landscape of the past -- where couples met, how they courted, and what happened when flirtations turned sour. In packed courtrooms and breathless newspaper reports, love letters were read as contracts and private gifts and gossip scrutinised as evidence. In Courting, Alecia Simmonds brings these stories vividly to life, revealing the entangled histories of love and the law. Challenging our preconceptions about how previous generations loved and lost, and provoking questions about the ethics of love today, Courting is a fascinating journey into the most intimate corners of the past.
Main title:
Courting : an intimate history of love and the law / Alecia Simmonds.
Author:
Simmonds, Alecia, author
Imprint:
Wurundjeri Country ; Collingwood, VIC : La Trobe University Press in conjunction with Black Inc., 2023.©2023
Collation:
440 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm
Notes:
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN:
97817606421439781760642143 (paperback)
Dewey class:
346.940162346.0162346.016346.01
Language:
English
Subject:
BRN:
778363
| Location | Collection | Call number | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| City Library | -Society | SOCIETY 346.016 SIMM | Available |
| Library at the Dock | -Society | SOCIETY 346.01 SIMM | Available |
| narrm ngarrgu Library and Family Services | -Society | SOCIETY 346.01 SIMM | Available |