Mixed Marriage: Class, Religion, Race, and Nation in England, 1837-1939

This book explores the social and legal consequences of mixed marriage in England between 1837 and 1939, focusing on gender, class, religion, race, and nationality. It reveals the reaction of the family, neighborhood, and state to those who chose exogamous matches, with wives facing more legal problems than husbands. Timing was also crucial, with class and religion being more significant in the nineteenth century and race and nationality becoming more prominent in the twentieth. Poor neighborhoods often accepted mixed families, with blending of religions, races, and nations common.

Format: Hardback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 02 February 2024
Publisher: Liverpool University Press

This comprehensive book delves into the intricate social and legal ramifications of mixed marriages in England between 1837 and 1939, considering factors such as class, religion, race, and nationality. Through a rich array of sources, including government documents, marital litigation, poor-law records, and autobiographies, it explores the diverse reactions of families, neighborhoods, and the state to individuals who chose exogamous matches.

Gender played a pivotal role in these marriages, with wives often undertaking the emotional labor of bridging divisions and facing more legal challenges related to property, divorce, and child custody. Wives who struggled to adapt to differences exposed the gendered power dynamics that were typically obscured by the fiction of separate spheres. This included cases where wives possessed more property than their husbands, refused to convert to their husbands' religions, or found it difficult to acclimate to a foreign country.

The timing of these marriages was also significant, with class and religion being more influential in the nineteenth century, while race and nationality gained prominence in the twentieth. During economic downturns or times of war, mixed families may encounter hostility, although this was not a universal experience. In poorer neighborhoods, particularly, acceptance was the norm, with blending of religions, races, and nations being commonplace. Overall, England had a long history of welcoming immigrants, which helped to mitigate some of the prejudices prevalent during this era.

Dimension: 239 x 163 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781802073638