Wednesday, 9 January 2019

A New Year Book Review January 2019 Love Intimacy and Power


Love Intimacy and Power

Marriage and Patriarchy in Scotland 1650-1850

Katie Barclay Manchester University Press 2011

In a blog Post that focusses on the works of John Calvin (1509 – 1564) then why include a review of a book that details patterns of marriage in a different period and country from those where his life’s work predominated?  John Calvin influenced the Protestant Reformation in cities and countries far beyond Geneva, the city with which his name is most frequently associated.  This is true of Scotland where the Reformation beginning in 1560 and the influence of John Knox (1513- 1572) is extensive.

With the Scottish Reformation came more formal schooling and increased literacy among the population.  Her Calvin’s desire for human beings to be able to read and comprehend Scripture for themselves is worked out.  Calvin’s influence on the governance and authority of the local Church, the Kirk is also prevalent.  In this book Katie Barclay explores the approach to marriage over two centuries through correspondences between couples linked with data on the number of marriages, the age of the partners and developments in other countries affected by the Protestant Reformation such as England Wales and the Scandinavian countries.  Aspects of duty and obedience on the parts of husband and wife are considered at the beginning of the period under study followed by how these changed a the Enlightenment began with its greater emphasis on individual satisfaction rather than family commitments.

The text is derived from a PhD thesis and is adequately referenced for further study should the reader wish to undertake it.  As a stepping stone to considering the broader implications of John Calvin’s work in a country in which he did not reside it as is a worthy read.

Love, Intimacy and Power

Marriage and Patriarchy in Scotland 1650-1850

Katie Barclay Manchester University Press 2011

In a Blog Post that focusses on the works of John Calvin (1509 – 1564) then why include a review of a book that details patterns of marriage in a different period and country from those where his life’s work predominated?  John Calvin influenced the Protestant Reformation in cities and countries far beyond Geneva, the city with which his name is most frequently associated.  This is true of Scotland where the Reformation began in 1560 and the influence of John Knox (1513- 1572) is extensive.

With the Scottish Reformation came more formal schooling and increased literacy among the population.  Here Calvin’s desire for human beings to be able to read and comprehend Scripture for themselves is worked out.  Calvin’s influence on the governance and authority of the local Church, the Kirk is also prevalent.  In this book Katie Barclay explores the approach to marriage over two centuries through correspondences between couples linked with data on the number of marriages, the age of the partners and developments in other countries affected by the Protestant Reformation such as England Wales and the Scandinavian countries.  Aspects of duty and obedience on the parts of husband and wife are considered at the beginning of the period under study followed by how these changed as the Enlightenment began with its greater emphasis on individual satisfaction rather than family commitments.

The text is derived from a PhD thesis and is adequately referenced for further study should the reader wish to undertake it.  As a stepping stone to considering the broader implications of John Calvin’s work in a country in which he did not reside it as is a worthy read.

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