Reading Mistress Elizabeth Bourne: Marriage, Separation, and Legal Controversies

The documents in Reading Mistress Elizabeth Bourne: Marriage, Separation, and Legal Controversies tell the story of Mistress Bourne's petition for divorce, its resolution, and the ongoing dispute between her and her husband about their marriage and separation, as well as between her and Sir John Conway for custody of her daughters and financial security. They capture the contradiction between married women's legal limitations and the often messy and complicated avenues of redress available to them, challenging literary representations of patient endurance. The Bourne case offers a unique set of documents previously unavailable through the British Library, National Archives, and Hatfield House.

Format: Hardback
Length: 188 pages
Publication date: 29 March 2021
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The documents contained in Reading Mistress Elizabeth Bourne: Marriage,Separation,and Legal Controversies tell a story of Mistress Bournes petition for divorce,its resolution,and the ongoing dispute between Mistress Bourne and her husband about their marriage and separation,and subsequently between Mistress Bourne and Sir John Conway both for custody of her daughters and her financial security. The letters capture the contradiction between married womens official legal limitations and the often messy and complicated avenues of redress available to them. Elizabeths narratives and desire for divorce challenge literary representations of patient endurance where appropriate feminine behavior restores a husbands devotion. The Bourne case offers a unique set of documents heretofore unavailable except through the British Library,National Archives State Papers,and Hatfield House.
Reading Mistress Elizabeth Bourne is tremendously important to early modern scholars and our knowledge about and view of womens negotiations for legal autonomy in the sixteenth century.
The documents contained in Reading Mistress Elizabeth Bourne: Marriage,Separation,and Legal Controversies tell a story of Mistress Bournes petition for divorce,its resolution,and the ongoing dispute between Mistress Bourne and her husband about their marriage and separation,and subsequently between Mistress Bourne and Sir John Conway both for custody of her daughters and her financial security. The letters capture the contradiction between married womens official legal limitations and the often messy and complicated avenues of redress available to them. Elizabeths narratives and desire for divorce challenge literary representations of patient endurance where appropriate feminine behavior restores a husbands devotion. The Bourne case offers a unique set of documents heretofore unavailable except through the British Library,National Archives State Papers,and Hatfield House.
Reading Mistress Elizabeth Bourne is tremendously important to early modern scholars and our knowledge about and view of womens negotiations for legal autonomy in the sixteenth century.
The documents contained in Reading Mistress Elizabeth Bourne: Marriage,Separation,and Legal Controversies tell a story of Mistress Bournes petition for divorce,its resolution,and the ongoing dispute between Mistress Bourne and her husband about their marriage and separation,and subsequently between Mistress Bourne and Sir John Conway both for custody of her daughters and her financial security. The letters capture the contradiction between married womens official legal limitations and the often messy and complicated avenues of redress available to them. Elizabeths narratives and desire for divorce challenge literary representations of patient endurance where appropriate feminine behavior restores a husbands devotion. The Bourne case offers a unique set of documents heretofore unavailable except through the British Library,National Archives State Papers,and Hatfield House.
Reading Mistress Elizabeth Bourne is tremendously important to early modern scholars and our knowledge about and view of womens negotiations for legal autonomy in the sixteenth century.

Weight: 432g
Dimension: 157 x 236 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367700362