A Cultural History of Twin Beds
Understanding the evolution of intimacy and domesticity
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Taylor & Francis Ltd
Published:8th Aug '19
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
This hardback is available in another edition too:
- Paperback£39.99(9780367784805)
Exploring the rise and decline of twin beds, A Cultural History of Twin Beds reveals their surprising role in shaping marital intimacy and societal norms.
In A Cultural History of Twin Beds, the author Hilary Hinds delves into the societal implications of twin beds, challenging long-held beliefs regarding intimacy and domestic life. The book traces the evolution of twin beds as a popular sleeping arrangement for married couples from 1870 to 1970, revealing how these seemingly innocuous pieces of furniture reflected broader cultural attitudes towards marriage, sexuality, and hygiene. While today twin beds are often associated with couples who prefer to sleep apart, historically, they were embraced as a symbol of modernity and progressive thinking in relationships.
Hinds employs a variety of sources, including marriage guidance literature, medical advice, and popular media, to paint a comprehensive picture of the twin bed phenomenon. This exploration not only highlights the practical reasons behind the popularity of twin beds but also uncovers the underlying social dynamics that influenced their usage. The narrative invites readers to reconsider their assumptions about intimacy, as it becomes clear that twin beds served a purpose beyond mere separation.
Ultimately, A Cultural History of Twin Beds offers valuable insights into the changing nature of relationships and domestic arrangements over the years. By examining the cultural significance of twin beds, Hinds provides a unique lens through which to understand the evolving norms of marriage and intimacy in late 19th and 20th century Britain. This book is essential for anyone interested in the intersections of culture, sociology, and psychology.
"Delving through marriage guidance and medical advice books, furniture catalogues and novels, Lancaster University professor Hilary Hinds found that twin beds were initially adopted in the late 19th century as a health precaution. […] Hinds's book lays out how, by the 1930s, twin beds were commonplace in middle-class households. But by the 1940s, writes Hinds, 'they can occasion an unmistakable curl of the lip' and are 'no longer the preserve of the health-conscious forward-thinking middle classes'." – The Guardian
"Elegantly written and thoroughly researched, Hilary Hinds' fascinating book demonstrates the shifting role played by the twin bed in the histories of hygiene, consumer culture, sexuality and marriage. Hind reveals the twin bed to be a forgotten actor in late 19th- and 20th-century efforts to reimagine and reform domestic relations." – Garrett A. Sullivan Jr., Pennsylvania State University, USA
"Twins or double? Tucked away behind the neutral hotel-room options, Hilary Hinds uncovers a compellingly curious 20th-century cultural history. A fascinating story of changing domestic and marital values." – Rachel Bowlby, University College London, UK
"This fascinating cultural history offers fresh perspectives on public health, domestic hygiene, marital sexuality and even modernity itself." – Laura Doan, University of Manchester, UK
"Highly original in content and approach, A Cultural History of Twin Beds presents an exciting and novel historical story and sets up a good model for future studies of domestic objects." – Journal of British Studies
"Lancaster University professor Hilary Hinds explores couples’ bedtime habits in A Cultural History of Twin Beds […] She found that, up until the 1950s, the notion of sharing a bed was regarded as old-fashioned and unhealthy. More than half a century on in 2020, the opposite is true." – Vogue
ISBN: 9781350045422
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: 580g
296 pages