Between Poverty and the Pyre: Moments in the History of Widowhood

📘 Book Details

• Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

• Author: Jan Bremmer

• Language: English

• Edition: 1

• Binding: Paperback

• Pages: 284

• Release Date: 11-11-2011

• ISBN: 9780415513388

• Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches

📝 About The Book

Between Poverty and the Pyre, edited by Jan Bremmer, is a compelling interdisciplinary examination of widowhood across cultures and centuries. Drawing together contributions from historians, anthropologists, and philologists, this volume challenges the notion of a “typical widow,” revealing how legal status, religion, geography, and economic conditions have shaped women's experiences after the loss of a spouse.

Covering a wide cultural and historical spectrum, the book delves into:

• Hindu widows who practiced sati by joining their husbands on the funeral pyre

• European widows who were persecuted as witches

• Women forced into prostitution for survival

• Religious perspectives, including Jesus's compassion for widows and the life of Khadija, Prophet Mohammed’s first wife

This thought-provoking volume sheds light on widowhood as both a personal and societal condition, demonstrating how widowhood has served as a lens to understand broader issues of gender, power, and tradition. A vital resource for those interested in gender studies, religious history, cultural anthropology, and the intersection of law and social customs.