Doomed Romance: Broken Hearts, Lost Souls, and Sexual Tumult in Nineteenth-Century America

Impeccably researched. What is the role of women in historical American Christianity, proselytizing, and marriage, at a time of some social tumult in gender roles? The case of Martha's engagements, the way she tries to wield the very little power over her own life, and the resultant cruel and reactionary behavior from a man...it all matters and it still resonates, sadly.

Well researched, this is an interesting look at the lives of many women during the 19th century. Centered around one woman, Martha Parker, the author examines how the evangelical movement first empowered women but upon seeing the results, pulled them down.

Missionary societies were very popular then with women leading much of the support to missionaries especially in the Middle East. There were several women who gained recognition as the wives of missionaries and the "position" of a missionary's wife was a often sought for goal. Martha had made some plans to marry her bland cousin, Thomas Tenney, but after becoming acquainted with a man who was headed to Lebanon as a missionary, she accepted his offer of marriage. Now Thomas was dumped show more and the Board of Missionaries got involved especially the president of Dartmouth College who felt that she was duty bound to marry Thomas. Martha's situation soon became a near scandal with many "evangelical leaders" chiming in.

At times, there was so much quoting from the actual letters of the participants, that is was not an easy read due to the convoluted syntax of that time; however, the book is still an interesting look at what women faced at that time if they dared to step out of the bounds of tradition. Well researched, but I do feel the title is a bit misleading - not sure any of it involved real "romance" but rather marriages of opportunity, propriety, or economics. show less