Marriage and Morals

New York: Horace Liveright, 1929. Book. Very Good. Hardcover. Signed by Author(s). 1st Edition. 8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" tall. ¶ The book's working title was "Sex Freedom", a theme that was retained after finalizing the title. The book remained influential for several decades. Its purpose was to determine what sexual morality would be best for general happiness and wellbeing. Russell himself had practiced a puritanical approach for years but recently had explored free love. Surprisingly, he argues against total freedom. As a male he holds that what is most to be desired is that they [women, in his case] should be difficult, but not impossible, of access. Thus sexual love is to remain in the sphere of romance, in which the process of courtship and indeed the involvement of the whole being are important. ¶ The true subject of the book is marriage, and the only public concern, he asserts, should be the existence of children. Marriage is valuable on its own account, because the sexes have much to learn from one another. Only when there are children should divorce be restricted by law. In a passage presaging a difficulty in his second marriage at the time, Russell hopes that "each party should be able to put up with such temporary fancies as are always liable to occur." ¶ His rational approach has been helpful in enabling young people to transcend a prejudicial education and decide sexual and marital issues for themselves after a period of living together. ¶ More than 30 years later Russell's 1929 remarks on Blacks were brought to his attention. He told his publishers: "In Chapter 18 of Marriage and Morals which you are reprinting there is a statement 'It seems on the whole fair to regard negroes as on the average inferior to white men.' [ p. 267] I have for a very long time come to think this statement erroneous and I very much regret that by some mistake the necessary correction was not conveyed to you." ¶ This Very Good- copy is a first printing of the first American edition. Pagination is vi, 320, (2). Printed on thick, cream-coloured, wove paper, endpapers same; all edges trimmed, fore-edge rough cut, top edge stained blue. Bound in navy-blue cloth boards. Chips are missing from the head and foot of the spine, whose gilt stamping is worn off. The author's signature is gilt-stamped on the front board. Pages are clean except for a small spot in the gutter of pp. 300-1. ¶ The authenticated autograph of Bertrand Russell (written here, unusually, without lifting his pen) is at the top of the front free endpaper. Blackwell and Ruja A59.2a..