This book considers Section 21 of the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Act 1857 and its significant impact on previously invisible married women in the 19th century. Tens of thousands of women used this little-known section of the Act to apply for orders from local magistrates' courts to reclaim their rights of testation, inheritance, property ownership, and (dependent on local franchise qualifications) ability to vote. By examining the orders that were made and considering the women who applied for them, the book challenges the mistaken belief that Victorian England and Wales were nations of married, cohabiting couples. The detailed statistical analysis and rich case studies presented here provide a totally new perspective on the legal status and experiences of married women in England and Wales. Although many thousands of orders were granted between 1858 and 1900, their details remain unknown and unexamined, primarily because census records did not consistently record dissolved marriages and there is no central index of applications made. Using sources including court records, parliamentary papers, newspaper reports, census returns, probate records and trade directories, this book reconstructs the successful – and unsuccessful – experiences of women applying to magistrates' courts and the Court for Divorce and Matrimonial Causes to protect their assets across regions and decades.

Agunot (Agunah, sing., meaning anchored in Hebrew) is a Jewish term describing women who cannot remarry because their husband has disappeared. According to Jewish law (Halacha) a woman can get out of the marriage only if the husband releases her by granting a divorce writ (Get), if he dies, or if his whereabouts is not known. Women whose husbands cannot be located, and who have not been granted a Get, are considered Agunot. The Agunah phenomenon was of major concern in East European Jewry and much referred to in Hebrew and Yiddish media and fiction. Most nineteenth-century Agunot cases came from Eastern Europe, where most Jews resided (twentieth-century Agunot were primarily in North America, and will be the subject of a forthcoming book). Seven variations of Agunot have been identified: Deserted wives; women who refused to receive, or were not granted, a Get; widowed women whose brothers-in-law refused to grant them permission to marry someone else (Halitza); women whose husbands remains were not found; improperly or incorrectly written Gets; women whose husbands became mentally ill and were not competent to grant a Get; women refused a Get by husbands who had converted to Christianity or Islam. The book explores the reasons for desertion and the plight of the left-alone wife. Key is the change from a legal issue to a social one, with changing attitudes to philanthropy and public opinion at the fore of explanation. A statistical database of circa 5000 identified Agunot is to be published simultaneously in a separate companion volume (978-1-78976-167-2).

Embark on a captivating journey into the depths of human emotion with Honoré de Balzac's poignant tale, "The Deserted Woman." Step into the world of 19th-century France as Balzac masterfully weaves a tale of love, betrayal, and redemption. In this evocative story, readers are transported to the heart of Parisian society, where passions run high and secrets lurk behind every elegant façade. Themes of love, loss, and the complexities of human relationships permeate the narrative, inviting readers to delve into the innermost thoughts and feelings of the characters. From the longing of unrequited love to the anguish of betrayal, Balzac's exploration of the human heart is both timeless and profoundly moving. Through vivid descriptions and richly drawn characters, Balzac brings to life the vibrant streets of Paris and the intimate dramas unfolding within its salons and drawing rooms. With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of human nature, he captures the essence of the human experience with exquisite sensitivity and insight. The overall tone of the story is one of melancholy and introspection, as Balzac delves into the depths of human emotion with a blend of empathy and compassion. As the characters grapple with their desires and fears, readers are drawn into a world of passion and longing, where the pursuit of love can lead to both ecstasy and heartbreak. "The Deserted Woman" has earned widespread acclaim for its compelling narrative, vivid characters, and timeless themes. Critics and readers alike have praised Balzac's ability to capture the complexities of human relationships with honesty and depth, making this story a classic of French literature. Whether you're a fan of classic literature or simply drawn to stories of love and longing, "The Deserted Woman" offers a captivating journey through the labyrinth of the human heart. Grab your copy now and immerse yourself in Balzac's exquisite tale of passion, betrayal, and redemption.

"The Deserted Woman" by Honoré de Balzac The Vicomtesse de Beauséant as a woman is used to being the embodiment of elegance, beauty, and Parisian taste. However, out of love for a marquis who abandoned her, she sacrifices her comfort and her brilliant life. Out of humiliation, she is forced to retire to the countryside. It is there that she meets the young Gaston de Nueil, who immediately falls under her spell.

In the 21st century, the Mercantile Iron Lady Kang-ying transmigrated to the peasant woman Kang-ying of the 1990s. Kang-ying was honest and kind, married for three years without ever getting married, after sparring with her husband and mother-in-law. After changing the "core", the forsaken woman Kang Sai first got rid of the top quality husband family, and then began the business to earn a lot of money, married the man's life!

This important new text is the product of several years of research of the family law of fifteen Commonwealth Caribbean jurisdictions. It is the first and only legal text that comprehensively covers all the main substantive areas of spousal family law, including marriage, divorce, financial support, property rights and domestic violence. The rights of the statutory spouse in the jurisdictions of Barbados, Belize, Guyana, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago are examined, thus addressing, on a jurisdictional basis, an important area of spousal family that is seldom covered in English family law texts. The book also covers the number and variations of divorce regimes applicable to the region – the matrimonial offence divorce model of Guyana and Montserrat, the English five fact model of Trinidad and Tobago, Dominica, Grenada, Anguilla, and St Vincent and the Grenadines, the hybrid model of Antigua and Barbuda, Belize and St Kitts and Nevis, and the no fault model of Jamaica and Barbados. This book will prove an indispensable resource for law students and legal academics, as well as for family law practitioners across the English-speaking Caribbean. Other professionals, including sociologists and social workers, will also find the book useful and informative.