Thicker than Water: Siblings and their Relations, 1780-1920

Thicker than Water examines sibling relationships in middle-class British families during the long nineteenth century. Through extensive analysis of letters, diaries, and other personal documents, Davidoff reconstructs the daily lives and emotional bonds between brothers and sisters during a time of social transformation. The book traces how siblings influenced each other's education, careers, marriages, and life choices across multiple generations. Davidoff explores the practical and economic interdependence of siblings, as well as their role in maintaining family networks and social status. Large Victorian families created complex webs of relationships that extended beyond the nuclear family unit. The work analyzes how birth order, gender, and age spacing shaped power dynamics and responsibilities between siblings throughout their lives. This social history reveals broader patterns about class mobility, gender roles, and the evolution of family structures during Britain's industrialization. Through the lens of sibling bonds, Davidoff presents new perspectives on how middle-class families navigated rapid social and economic changes.

This appears to be an academic text with limited online reader reviews available. The few scattered reviews from academic journals and libraries indicate readers found value in its detailed examination of sibling relationships in British middle-class families during the long 19th century. Readers appreciated: - The extensive use of letters, diaries, and family papers as primary sources - Coverage of both emotional bonds and practical support between siblings - Analysis of how sibling relationships shaped broader social networks Common critiques: - Dense academic writing style that can be difficult to follow - Heavy focus on middle and upper classes with less coverage of working class families - Some repetition of examples and themes Available Ratings: Goodreads: No ratings or reviews WorldCat: No user reviews Google Books: No user reviews The book appears to be primarily used in academic settings rather than for general readership, which explains the limited number of public reviews.

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🔹 Leonore Davidoff was a pioneering scholar in family history and gender studies who helped establish the academic journal "Gender & History" in 1989. 🔹 The book challenges the common assumption that sibling relationships were less important in the past, revealing they were often the longest-lasting family bonds in the 18th and 19th centuries. 🔹 During the time period covered (1780-1920), middle-class families typically had 5-6 children who survived to adulthood, creating extensive sibling networks that shaped social and economic life. 🔹 Adult siblings frequently lived together in Victorian England - nearly 30% of middle-class households included an unmarried sister living with married siblings. 🔹 The research draws heavily from family letters, diaries, and documents from over 40 Victorian families, including famous ones like the Darwins and lesser-known middle-class households.