Families in Crisis in the Old South

Exploring the complexities of divorce in the antebellum South, this book examines how societal views labeled it as madness and a sign of community decay, yet divorce rates continued to rise. Loren Schweninger utilizes previously untapped records to shed light on the challenges faced by divorcing families, providing insights into the realities of life in a slave-holding society. The narrative also highlights the struggles of white southern families who opted against divorce, offering a nuanced understanding of familial crises during this tumultuous period.