A History of Marriage is a fascinating exploration of how marriage developed, and in light of the forces that continue to shape it, how marriage is likely to look in the future. Elizabeth Abbott, who made celibacy sexy in her acclaimed book A History of Celibacy, offers an absorbing blend of information and explanation. Real-life experiences are presented in their wider historical context: What were a couple's alternatives to staying together? What were the longevity rates and how long was the average marriage until death ended it? What were the differences between the experiences of wealthier and poorer spouses? In a provocative and lively style, Abbott puts a human face on marriage as she explores its nature in the context of love, sex, loyalty, childrearing, shared finances, and social recognition.

Elizabeth Abbott is Dean of Women at Trinity College, University of Toronto, where she also teaches a social science course.An historian with a doctorate in 19th-century history, she has worked for over a decade as a journalist and writer with a special interest in social history and the environment.She was editor-in-chief of Chronicle of Canada, the bestselling illustrated history of Canada and the author of Haiti: The Duvaliers and their Legacy.She is a book reviewer for The Globe and Mail and The Gazette (Montreal).She has written for Harrowsmith, The Next City and Equinox and in 1992 won a National Magazine Award for environmental writing.A History Of Celibacy is her most recent book.

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