Tying the Knot

'With reform of weddings law back on the agenda, Rebecca Probert's fascinating study underscores how recourse to history can show that while the contexts has changed, the problems we face are not new and that reform is needed to untangle this knotty area of law. This is an exemplar of what historically informed legal analysis can achieve and deserves to be widely read by legal historians and family lawyers alike.' Russell Sandberg, Cardiff University 'Tying the Knot brings to life the evolution of marriage laws over the course of almost two centuries drawing on multiple source materials to weave engrossing narratives. With a focus on the relationship between law and practice, this book details the historic and current role of the law in defining how a couple can marry in accordance with their beliefs, making it highly relevant to contemporary debates.' Rajnaara Akhtar, De Montfort University 'This book 'celebrates', as it were, both weddings and their laws. Only the stand-out family lawyer of her generation could meld the two with such apparent ease. If you like love, law, history, religion and politics this is the book for you. Don't borrow a copy - buy one.' Chris Barton, Emeritus Professor of Family Law, Staffordshire University 'Tying the Knot is an excellent book and fills the gap of scholarship in the history of English marriage law. It accomplishes a remarkable feat in sustaining a consistent theme and narrative across two centuries of history.' Henry Kha, International Journal of Law, Policy and The Family '... an engaging, informative study of the history of English marriage law ... Recommended.' A. C. Stanley, Choice Connect