ABSTRACT
Stepfamilies have openly existed for many hundreds of years, but whereas they used to be formed following the death of a spouse and remarriage, the majority are now created by divorce and remarriage. Figures fell dramatically between the two world wars, but the estimate of marriages broken by death or divorce within twenty years of marriage is now in the region of 30 per cent, whereas the calculated figure for 1826 was 36 per cent. Remarriage within two years was normal.
