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The subversive family an alternative history of love and marriage

British politician and writer, Ferdinand Mount, challenges contemporary beliefs about society and family'including the history of divorce, childcare, and the concept of the nuclear family. In Subversive Family, politician and writer Ferdinand Mount argues that society is shaped by a series of powerful revolutionary movements, the leaders of which, whether they be political ideologues, theologians, feudal lords, or feminist writers, have done their utmost to render the family a subordinate instrument of their purpose but that, in spite of it all, the family endures. Mount maintains that many widely held contemporary beliefs about the family are based on a willful misreading of the evidence: among the myths are that arranged marriages were the norm until this century; that child care is a modern innovation; that in earlier societies children were treated as expendable objects; that the nuclear family is not a 20th-century invention; and that romantic love never existed before the troubador poets glorified adultery. Divorce, he contends, is no great novelty either, he shows that in many times and places it has been almost as easy to obtain as it is today. Far from diminishing the general desire and respect for family life, Mount contends that the provision for divorce has been popularly regarded as an integral part of any sensible system of family law. This study should jolt the reader into a re-assessment of one of the most familiar and ancient institutions, and encourage greater consideration for policies today that support the family.

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  • "British politician and writer, Ferdinand Mount, challenges contemporary beliefs about society and family'including the history of divorce, childcare, and the concept of the nuclear family. In Subversive Family, politician and writer Ferdinand Mount argues that society is shaped by a series of powerful revolutionary movements, the leaders of which, whether they be political ideologues, theologians, feudal lords, or feminist writers, have done their utmost to render the family a subordinate instrument of their purpose but that, in spite of it all, the family endures. Mount maintains that many widely held contemporary beliefs about the family are based on a willful misreading of the evidence: among the myths are that arranged marriages were the norm until this century; that child care is a modern innovation; that in earlier societies children were treated as expendable objects; that the nuclear family is not a 20th-century invention; and that romantic love never existed before the troubador poets glorified adultery. Divorce, he contends, is no great novelty either, he shows that in many times and places it has been almost as easy to obtain as it is today. Far from diminishing the general desire and respect for family life, Mount contends that the provision for divorce has been popularly regarded as an integral part of any sensible system of family law. This study should jolt the reader into a re-assessment of one of the most familiar and ancient institutions, and encourage greater consideration for policies today that support the family."@en
  • ""The family is a subversive organization. In fact, it is the ultimate and only consistently subversive organization." With these words, Ferdinand Mount begins what has come to be regarded as one of the most influential works of social history in recent times. Published to acclaim in England and throughout Europe, The Subversive Family now makes its first appearance in America. At a time when public discussions of divorce, child support, gender inequality, adoption, care for the aged, and all manner of family issues are taking new and unanticipated turns, Mount provides us with a history of the family that will pique the interest, and often the ire, of all parties in the debate. Mount argues that our society has been shaped by a series of powerful revolutionary movements, the leaders of which, whether they be politicians, theologians, feudal lords, or feminist writers, have done their utmost - ultimately unsuccessfully - to render the family subordinate to their purpose. He maintains that many widely held beliefs about the family are based on a willful misreading of the evidence promulgated by the Church, the state, and various ideologues; included among these are the myths that arranged marriages were the norm until this century; that child care is a modern invention; that in earlier societies children were treated as expendable objects; that the nuclear family is a twentieth century invention; and that romantic love never existed before the troubadour poets glorified adultery. Divorce, Mount contends, is no great novelty either. Irreverent and entertaining, The Subversive Family will jolt the reader into a fascinating reassessment of love and marriage and encourage greater consideration for policies today that support the family."@en
  • ""The family is a subversive organization. In fact, it is the ultimate and only consistently subversive organization." With these words, Ferdinand Mount begins what has come to be regarded as one of the most influential works of social history in recent times. Published to acclaim in England and throughout Europe, The Subversive Family now makes its first appearance in America. At a time when public discussions of divorce, child support, gender inequality, adoption, care for the aged, and all manner of family issues are taking new and unanticipated turns, Mount provides us with a history of the family that will pique the interest, and often the ire, of all parties in the debate. Mount argues that our society has been shaped by a series of powerful revolutionary movements, the leaders of which, whether they be politicians, theologians, feudal lords, or feminist writers, have done their utmost - ultimately unsuccessfully - to render the family subordinate to their purpose. He maintains that many widely held beliefs about the family are based on a willful misreading of the evidence promulgated by the Church, the state, and various ideologues; included among these are the myths that arranged marriages were the norm until this century; that child care is a modern invention; that in earlier societies children were treated as expendable objects; that the nuclear family is a twentieth century invention; and that romantic love never existed before the troubadour poets glorified adultery. Divorce, Mount contends, is no great novelty either. Irreverent and entertaining, The Subversive Family will jolt the reader into a fascinating reassessment of love and marriage and encourage greater consideration for policies today that support the family."
  • "Mount argues that throughout history a series of revolutionary movements have tried unsuccessfully to make the family subordinate to their cause and that many of the widely held beliefs about the history of family life are myths created by these movements."@en
  • "Mount argues that throughout history a series of revolutionary movements have tried unsuccessfully to make the family subordinate to their cause and that many of the widely held beliefs about the history of family life are myths created by these movements."
  • "Une "histoire alternative de l'amour et du mariage". Essai sur l'évolution de la famille à partir d'éléments marginaux, de documents qui ne sont pas en accord avec l'image que les institutions officielles (l'Etat, l'Eglise, etc.) veulent en donner. L'auteur fait ressortir des faits qui ne coïncident pas avec les conceptions les plus répandues."

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  • "Electronic books"@en
  • "History"
  • "History"@en
  • "Geschiedenis (vorm)"

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  • "La famille subversive"
  • "The subversive family an alternative history of love and marriage"@en
  • "The subversive family an alternative history of love and marriage"
  • "Die autonome Familie : Plädoyer für d. Private ; e. Geschichte d. latenten Widerstandes gegen Kirche, Staat u. Ideologen"
  • "The Subversive family : an alternative history of love and marriage"
  • "Die autonome Familie (The subversive family, dt.). Plädoyer für das Private. Eine Geschichte des latenten Widerstandes gegen Kirche, Staat und Ideologen"
  • "La famille subversive : [histoire alternative de l'amour et du mariage]"
  • "Den samhällsfarliga familjen : en alternativ kärlekens och äktenskapets historia"
  • "Den samhällsfarliga familjen : en alternativ kärlekens och äktenskapets historia"@sv
  • "Die autonome Familie : Plädoyer für das Private : eine Geschichte des latenten Widerstandes gegen Kirche, Staat und Ideologen"
  • "The subversive family : An alternative history of love and marriage"
  • "Subversive family"@en
  • "The subversive family : an alternative history of love and marriage"
  • "The subversive family : an alternative history of love and marriage"@en
  • "Subversive family : an alternative history of love and marriage"

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