BOOKS & DATA DISCS
by Tania O’Donnell
This month’s family history inspiration
Pen & Sword, 137 pages, £12.99
This book is an entertaining romp through some of the more intriguing aspects of courtship. It is organised into topics such as ‘Love at first sight’ and ‘Love tokens’ – all of which give it the appearance of being a self-help guide for modern lovers interested to find out how practices such as proposing on bended knee first originated.
Among well-known tidbits (including Lydia Bennett’s seduction by the rake Wickham), there are some eye-popping surprises including a saucy poem by John Wilmot, second Earl of Rochester (1647-1680). The illustrations, which include cartoons, paintings and sketches, are a further delight.
O’Donnell’s introduction makes the case for covering 800 years, from the 12th century to the early 20th century, but this wide brief makes contextualising and evaluating each piece of material impossible. Wildly diverging historical moments are placed side by side and there are further lurches between American, British and European sources without consideration of class and religious differences, and sketchy discussion of the laws at particular moments. Examples from literature and advice books are included without the question being asked as to whether real courtships were conducted in similar ways. For these reasons, it’s difficult to understand quite why certain practices evolved.
Providing you aren’t expecting serious historical analysis, you will enjoy this book as a collection of delicious soundbites on courtship.