A History of the Wife

Rating:
Summary: Good, though Euro-centric
Review: This is a very readable, interesting book detailing the history of the wife from biblical stories to present day America. The focus is very much on white, western women, almost exclusively European and American. There is a lot of interesting history and it's a fascinating evolution. Yalom choice of quotes & illustrations from Dickenson to newspaper comics was a nice addition, adding some color to the text. The eurocentric focus, since it was pretty clearly defined, didn't bother me until 20th-century America, when the absence of any Asian, Indian, African, etc. influences or tradtions seemed blatant and misleading. I also expected more discussion of gay partnerships since they figured heavily in Yalom's introduction.
Overall, I think it's an excellent book, just as it says for any woman considering the title of wife or already possessing it to see some of the baggage and tradion it carries.