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OverviewThe bitter and public court battle waged between Nina and James Walker of Newport, Rhode Island from 1909 to 1916 created a sensation throughout the nation with lurid accounts of—and gossip about—their marital troubles. The ordeal of this high-society couple, who wed as much for status as for love, is one of the prime examples of the growing trend of women seeking divorce during the early twentieth century. Gross Misbehavior and Wickedness—the charges Nina levied at James for his adultery (with the family governess) and extreme cruelty—recounts the protracted legal proceedings in juicy detail. Jean Elson uses court documents, correspondence, journals, and interviews with descendants to recount the salacious case. In the process, she underscores how divorce—in an era when women needed husbands for economic support—was associated with women’s aspirations for independence and rights. The Walkers’ dispute, replete with plot twists and memorable characters, sheds light on a critical period in the evolution of American culture. Full Product DetailsAuthor: Jean ElsonPublisher: Temple University Press,U.S. Imprint: Temple University Press,U.S. Dimensions: Width: 15.20cm , Height: 2.50cm , Length: 22.90cm ISBN: 9781439913901ISBN 10: 1439913900 Pages: 340 Publication Date: 15 June 2017 Audience: Professional and scholarly , Professional & Vocational Format: Hardback Publisher's Status: Active Availability: In Print  This item will be ordered in for you from one of our suppliers. Upon receipt, we will promptly dispatch it out to you. For in store availability, please contact us. Table of ContentsReviewsGross Misbehavior and Wickedness is a fascinating true story. Based on excellent archival work and Elson's precise scholarship, this meticulous contextualizing of divorce from a woman's point of view in the early twentieth century also has contemporary applications regarding gender relationships. Elson gradually reveals how women's rights have evolved over the years and why changes in U.S. divorce laws were essential. The narrative has several twists-it reads like a contemporary detective novel-as every legal victory for each side was appealed by the other. This is a moving and captivating book. -Elizabeth Ettorre, Professor Emerita of Sociology in the School of Law and Social Justice at the University of Liverpool and author of Autoethnography as Feminist Method: Sensitising the Feminist I Author InformationJean Elson is Senior Lecturer Emerita in the Department of Sociology at the University of New Hampshire and the author of Am I Still a Woman? Hysterectomy and Gender Identity (Temple). Tab Content 6Author Website:Countries AvailableAll regions |
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