You’ll Do, A History of Marrying for Reasons Other Than Love by Marcia A. Zug

“What’s love got to do with it?” Song lyrics popularized by the late, great Tina Turner encapsulate the sentiment expressed by author Marcia A. Zug in a new book, You’ll Do, A History of Marrying for Reasons Other Than Love. Taking an historical approach with examples from colonial times to contemporary Playboy Playmate Anna Nicole Smith and “a moderately successful model,” Milania Trump, Zug questions whether marriage has become obsolete. Why are couples getting hitched?

Setting aside the “gold diggers,” women (and often men) who marry for financial security -- generally those unable to compete in the financial world – Zug offers many other benefits associated with marriage. Simply put Zug writes, “marriage has legal rights,” love does not! Amid many advantages of “non-love” marriages Zug mentions, government benefits, increased social status, parental rights tax breaks, immigration sponsorships that may include eligibility for a green card or escape from criminal prosecution. An unexpected pregnancy often advances the marriage date to “protect the taint of bastardy” in traditional families. A law professor at the University of South Carolina, Zug, excludes the subject of marriage for religious reasons. She focuses on the advantages for non- love legal unions.

Zug reveals an exemplary case for a non-love marriage in her own family, which, in fact, inspired her book. The author’s great aunt, Rosie, was safely working in her Manhattan lower East Side factory beside her best friend, also a Jewish woman. Sol, her friend’s brother lived in Poland. In 1933 when the Nazis rose to power, Sol tried to legally immigrate to the USA but “American draconian immigration restriction,” denied Sol and other “undesirable groups” entry. A US citizen, Rosie left America, traveled to Poland, married Sol. Of course she returned to America with him, saving his life. Incidentally, after they married, Rosie and Sol fell in love and started a family.

Each chapter in Zug’s compelling book includes interesting side stories. Such a one is the tale of the marriage of well-known federalist Alexander Hamilton whose politically strategic marriage between Hamilton and Elizabeth Schulyler instantly propelled Hamilton into social stratosphere and greater political prominence. The marriage not only benefited Hamilton but advanced American democracy.

And what about marriage for love? Is love truly irrelevant even in the present times? Why do we continue to idealize or venerate marriage, exaltifying that walk to the bima? Zug clearly concludes, “Only when women have the same economic opportunity as men will they have an equal chance to marry for love.” A provocative read with endless topics for conversations within book groups or perhaps an opportunity to reveal a closely held secret to your bestie.