Reminiscent of
Composing a Life, Mary Catherine Bateson's famous study of women's lives, Katie Roiphe's
Uncommon Arrangements gives us a compelling sociological look at the inner workings of marriage. Culled from the histories of seven marriages from the British literary community circa 1910 to 1939, these unions were documented in private memoirs, personal correspondence, and published journals. Roiphe lifts the veil on these couples, and in doing so she illuminates much of what fascinates us about marriage and how the expectations of happiness within them are formed. I eagerly await the return of my copy, lent to a friend, so that I can reread this astonishing book.