ABSTRACT
The horror with which the English have been accustomed to regard marriage with a deceased wife's sister (MDWS) has always been a puzzle to Americans. The issue mattered deeply to, and directly affected, tens of thousands of people. Relationships between widowers and their sisters-in-law were common, as mothers often died in childbirth, leaving their sisters to assume responsibility for the day-to-day care of their children. MDWS was especially emotive and sensitive in Scotland given the country's long-standing legal and ecclesiastical opposition to it. MDWS was for many Scots the burning social issue of the day, one which threatened the very fabric of Scottish society. The MDWS issue was especially contentious as siblings occupied a special place within Victorian families. Victorian domestic ideology attached particular importance to sibling relations, especially the relationship between sisters, which was represented as being one of the closest within the Victorian family. The chapter also presents an overview of key concepts discussed in this book.
