In 1910, when Khedive Abbas II married a second wife surreptitiously, the contrast with his openly polygamous grandfather, Ismail, whose multiple wives and concubines signified his grandeur and masculinity, could not have been greater. That contrast reflected the spread of new ideals of family life that accompanied the development of Egypt’s modern marriage system. Modernizing Marriage explores the evolution of marriage and marital relations, shedding new light on the social and cultural history of Egypt. Family is central to modern Egyptian history and in the ruling court did the “political work.” Indeed, the modern state began as a household government in which members of the ruler’s household served in the military and civil service. Cuno discusses political and sociodemographic changes that affected marriage and family life and the production of a family ideology by modernist intellectuals, who identified the family as a site crucial to social improvement, and for whom the reform and codification of Muslim family law was a principal aim. Throughout Modernizing Marriage, Cuno examines Egyptian family history in a comparative and transnational context, addressing issues of colonial modernity and colonial knowledge, Islamic law and legal reform, social history, and the history of women and gender.

Joseph and Mary is about two people telling you the story of their own lives as individuals with their hopes, fears, emotions, and faith in the face of the unknown. Jesus is the common thread in both stories. While Joseph's story is shorter, Mary's story goes to the bitter end of Jesus's life, which is also a sweet beginning for us.Even though the stories are fictional, they are based on biblical quotes and references. For instance, how do you think Joseph felt or reacted when he found out Mary was pregnant and knew that he was not the father? What do you think Mary did as her son was being crucified? This book delves into these types of topics and asks you to react. There are questions at the end of each chapter for you to consider or ponder upon.The faith of Mary and Joseph, as individuals and as a family, is explored further. They see and reach the mountaintop but also go through the deep valleys of life, both apart and together. As a family, how would you deal with being refugees in Egypt after running away from the Romans? You will think about the stories you know, but from a different perspective, one that allows you to see the reactions and emotions that could have been.The hopes, fears, and thoughts of Mary and Joseph are fictional since we do not know what occurred two thousand years ago. However, you will have a sense of Mary and Joseph talking to you, about how they felt and what their lives were like.Dave Keim brings the story of Joseph and Mary together in an easy to read text with thought provoking questions at the end of each chapter. This is an ideal gift for both the young and adult reader, particularly at Christmas.Pastor Peter KaltenbaughThis book provides a new perspective into the thoughts, fears and questions that Joseph and Mary may have experienced in their lives. An easy read that would also be a great option for Bible studies, class discussions or Advent.Bonnie Heathole

Divine's former personal manager takes readers through a labyrinth of American subcultures, countercultures, and glimmering nightlife to tell this no-holds-barred story of a man who did anything to become a star Another breathtaking work from Simon & Schuster, Not Simply Divine is he biography that tells all, exploring the subcultures of America—experimental movies, gay theater, glittering nightlife, base debauchery—the world of Divine, the cross-dressing cult hero whose sudden death came on the eve of his greatest stardom.

A fascinating glimpse into the beginning and development of gay- and lesbian-themed films, from Maedchen in Uniform in 1931 to such current films as Philadelphia and Wilde, provides reviews and evaluations, and details the director's attitude toward public response and criticism. Original.

DIVIn Hollywood, marriage is like an oil change. Most celebrities are due for another one every three months. The E! channel actually breaks into their regular programming to tell us Benjamin Bratt just got married or Angelina Jolie and Billy Bob Thornton are getting divorced. We are a nation obsessed with celebrity relationships, break-ups, make-ups, and shake-ups. From better halves to bitter halves, Holy Matrimony! is the first book of its kind. A collection of more than 1,000 quotes by showbiz personalities, including some of today's celebrities, it is categorized by theme: dating, compatibility, romance, marriage, husbands and wives, divorce, remarriage, and, yes, even some enduring marriages (although "quantity is not always quality," as author Boze Hadleigh points out). Entertaining and enlightening, Holy Matrimony! will raise eyebrows-and maybe hopes-and definitely tickle the funny bone. Because marriage is much too important to take very seriously!/div

Not long after her father died, Afsaneh Najmabadi discovered that her father had a secret second family and that she had a sister she never knew about. In Familial Undercurrents, Najmabadi uncovers her family’s complex experiences of polygamous marriage to tell a larger story of the transformations of notions of love, marriage, and family life in mid-twentieth-century Iran. She traces how the idea of “marrying for love” and the desire for companionate, monogamous marriage acquired dominance in Tehran’s emerging urban middle class. Considering the role played in that process by late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century romance novels, reformist newspapers, plays, and other literature, Najmabadi outlines the rituals and objects---such as wedding outfits, letter writing, and family portraits---that came to characterize the ideal companionate marriage. She reveals how in the course of one generation men’s polygamy had evolved from an acceptable open practice to a taboo best kept secret. At the same time, she chronicles the urban transformations of Tehran and how its architecture and neighborhood social networks both influenced and became emblematic of the myriad forms of modern Iranian family life.

Living with the Locals comprises the stories of 13 white people who were taken in by Indigenous communities of the Torres Strait islands and eastern Australia between the 1790s and the 1870s, for periods from a few months to over 30 years. The shipwreck survivors, convicts and ex-convicts survived only through the Indigenous people's generosity. They assimilated to varying degrees into an Indigenous way of life and, for the most part, both parties mourned the white people's return to European life. The authors bring fresh insight to the stories and re-evaluate the encounters between Indigenous people and the white people who became part of their families.

As they openly say, 'life isn't fair'! Well for me, that's exactly the definition of my own life. Not until i reached the age of 18, where i signed the most stupid arrangement and contract in my life.Do you know what consist of that so called arrangement? Well, let me tell you... it's just me and my name who and which is going to be tied 'contractually' by the end of the name of my 'jerk' (so called ) of a husband.You heard that? Contractually? Yes. We're just going to be 'contractually married' for five years... for five long years.And since it's only for five years, we don't need to act like those typical husband and wife or a lovey-dovey-couple that you can see everywhere, holding each other's hands while walking, hugging, kissing.. and ohh.. eating each other's face, because that's exactly the opposite situation of our marriage. He hates me with all his guts and same with me.. although i don't knowthe reason why and where his hates coming from.So here i am, Arrianna Angela Kelley-Smith, married to Alexander Jonathan Smith who is known to be one of the successful and richest bachelor --slash--womanizer in the whole business state of California.Hmmp! Little did they know, he was already married to me four years ago...Next book: Taming Mr. Cold and Arrogant

This wide-ranging resource will help readers understand the history and current state of marriage and divorce in the United States, including their many cultural, economic, political, legal, and religious facets. Coverage includes information and insights on broad trends in relationships that are changing the landscape of American society, such as childcare, delayed marriages, blended families, and prevalence of marriage and divorce among various socioeconomic groups. In addition, the encyclopedia features in-depth entries covering high-interest issues that are shaping the character of marriage, divorce, relationships, and family life in the 21st century, including economic/legal topics (child support, prenups, divisions of assets in divorce, the wedding industry, no-fault divorce, legal representation in divorce, and economic independence as a factor in separations/divorce); other divorce factors (infidelity, parenthood, illness, domestic abuse, and child abuse); and a host of other legal/cultural issues, factors, and phenomena, both current and historical.

Among the contributions of the medieval church to western culture was the idea that marriage was one of the seven sacraments, which defined the role of married folk in the church. Although it had ancient roots, this new way of regarding marriage raised many problems, to which scholastic theologians applied all their ingenuity. By the late Middle Ages, the doctrine was fully established in Christian thought and practice but not yet as dogma. In the sixteenth century, with the entire Catholic teaching on marriage and celibacy and its associated law and jurisdiction under attack by the Protestant reformers, the Council of Trent defined the doctrine as a dogma of faith for the first time but made major changes to it. Rather than focusing on a particular aspect of intellectual and institutional developments, this book examines them in depth and in detail from their ancient precedents to the Council of Trent.