Public Vows

By Nancy F. Cott,

Book cover of Public Vows: A History of Marriage and the Nation

Book description

We commonly think of marriage as a private matter between two people, a personal expression of love and commitment. In this pioneering history, Nancy F. Cott demonstrates that marriage is and always has been a public institution.

From the founding of the United States to the present day, imperatives about…

Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Why read it?

1 author picked Public Vows as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

In Public Vows, Nancy Cott explores how the history of marriage in the United States reflects the creation of a very public and political institution. As Cott shows, in the early years of the United States, the common law doctrine of coverture allowed white men to hold a monopoly over the country’s civil and political institutions. For Cott, marriage has always been a public institution with political implications. As Cott explains, the political undercurrents and legal aspects of marriage have often allowed men to have control over women in law and in custom. Cott’s study was a vital component…

Want books like Public Vows?

Our community of 11,000+ authors has personally recommended 92 books like Public Vows.

Browse books like Public Vows

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in marriage, prostitution, and the New Deal?

Marriage 131 books
Prostitution 79 books
The New Deal 33 books