Product Ref: FHF-217
Family First: Tracing Relationships in the Past (Hardback) Ruth Alexandra Symes
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This illuminating and compassionate book takes family history beyond the dates and documents, exploring the real relationships that shaped the lives of our ancestors between 1800 and 1950. Ruth Alexandra Symes dives deep into the roles of mothers, fathers, children, and wider kin—and how social changes, legal reforms, and cultural expectations influenced how these relationships were formed, lived, and recorded.
Inside, you'll uncover:
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How attitudes to parenting, sibling rivalry, and extended families evolved
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What historical records (from censuses to birth and death certificates) reveal about family dynamics
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The impact of significant life events like marriage, childbirth, and bereavement
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Sensitive topics like illegitimacy, cousin marriage, and adoption
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The value of exploring relationships beyond the nuclear family—including neighbours, lodgers, and club associates
This is not just a how-to guide, but a richly woven tapestry of the emotional and social fabric of families in history. Whether you’re researching the stern Victorian patriarch or the unseen aunt who shaped your family’s story, this book helps you interpret the clues with empathy and insight.
ISBN : 9781473833883