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Dissertation Tidbit

posted by [personal profile] orichalcum at 06:54pm on 17/12/2003
In 17th century England, Thomas Heath, a maltser, "bought" the wife of George Fuller for three weeks, paying 2 pence per pound of her weight (_Weaker Vessel_, Antonia Fraser, pg 414). He paid, in total, 29 shillings and 1 farthing, meaning that (my calculation) she weighed about 174 pounds.

The different social concepts that both allow and value paying for a woman more by weight...it's really interesting. Not to mention the idea of renting someone else's wife for three weeks.
Mood:: 'thoughtful' thoughtful
Music:: 88 Lines about 44 Women
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There are 4 comments on this entry. (Reply.)
 

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posted by [identity profile] redhound.livejournal.com at 04:17pm on 17/12/2003
I'm appalled. Any right-thinking individual buys and sells women by the unit, or by the three-pack. What's the 17th century coming to?
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posted by [identity profile] digitalemur.livejournal.com at 05:39pm on 17/12/2003
I hear Costco has em in six-packs. They sell real well in winter in the Midwest, lemme tell ya.
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(no subject)

posted by [identity profile] redhound.livejournal.com at 06:29pm on 17/12/2003
Yeah, but when you buy a six-pack the last few always go bad and you wind up throwing them away. It'd be OK if you run a business or are having a party, I guess.
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posted by [identity profile] foldedfish.livejournal.com at 06:25am on 18/12/2003
Still, that's better than trying to buy the women they cram into 2-liter bottles.
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