Rachael Lennon was the National Trust’s co-founder of the revisionist Challenging Histories programme which Clare Balding claimed “will change the way history is written and thought about from this point onwards”. Having grown up understanding that marriage was only for a man and a woman, she married her wife Claire in Northumberland in 2017 - just 3 years after the legalisation of same-sex marriage in the UK. Rachael lives in Durham with her wife and daughter.

“Lennon is adept at weaving together individual stories and historical records in a way that is simultaneously entertaining and thought-provoking.”

• PrefaceIntroductionSHE SAID YESPopping the questionJust the two of usBetter to marry than burn – or starveThe usual inducements of women to marryPolitical proposalsTHE BIG DAYA manoeuvring businessMaking it officialPutting on a showA consummation to be devoutly wishedWHAT COMES NEXT?What’s in a name?Love, fair looks and true obedienceForsaking all othersA fruitful unionHaving it all – domestic, social and paid labourTill death do us partKeeping up the fightEpilogueNotes

Rachael Lennon was the National Trust’s co-founder of the revisionist Challenging Histories programme which Clare Balding claimed “will change the way history is written and thought about from this point onwards”. Having grown up understanding that marriage was only for a man and a woman, she married her wife Claire in Northumberland in 2017 - just 3 years after the legalisation of same-sex marriage in the UK. Rachael lives in Durham with her wife and daughter.

“Lennon is adept at weaving together individual stories and historical records in a way that is simultaneously entertaining and thought-provoking.”

• PrefaceIntroductionSHE SAID YESPopping the questionJust the two of usBetter to marry than burn – or starveThe usual inducements of women to marryPolitical proposalsTHE BIG DAYA manoeuvring businessMaking it officialPutting on a showA consummation to be devoutly wishedWHAT COMES NEXT?What’s in a name?Love, fair looks and true obedienceForsaking all othersA fruitful unionHaving it all – domestic, social and paid labourTill death do us partKeeping up the fightEpilogueNotes