The Lithuanian Family in its European Context, 1800-1914

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Focusing on the dynamics of marriage and divorce in the nineteenth-century Russian Empire, this book explores how a peasant community navigated unsanctioned marital practices like cohabitation and bigamy in response to external pressures such as inheritance laws and household structures. It highlights the resilience of individuals against restrictive policies, including serfdom and Church influence, by normalizing their family lives. Utilizing extensive archival sources, the study examines familial behavior from both individual and community viewpoints, particularly in Lithuania.