Shapely Ankle Preferr'd: A History of the Lonely Hearts Ad, 1695-2010

By Francesca Beauman

Book Overview

What do women look for in a man? And what do men look for in a woman? And how and why has this changed over the centuries?

Every week thousands of people advertise for love either in newspapers magazines or online. But if you think this is a modern phenomenon think again - the ads have been running for over three hundred years. From the first ad in 1695 from a young gentleman who 'would willingly Match himself to some Good Young Gentlewoman that has a Fortune of 3000 or thereabouts' to the GSOH WLTM and online dating of more recent years each ad is a snapshot of its age. The result is a startling history of sex marriage and society over three centuries - hilarious and heartbreaking by turn.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 009951334X
• ISBN13: 9780099513346
• Release Date: January 2012
• Publisher: Vintage Books
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.52 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.8" x 0.6" x 5.1"