"Fatherhood is one of history's enduring puzzles. What does it mean, exactly, and where did the concept originate? Why are fathers the way they are? In Fatherhood, ... historian Augustine Sedgewick shows us that this is not just the story of one of humanity's great virtues, of caring for those who need protection and provision. Nor is it merely the story of patriarchy, arguably the oldest and most widespread form of social hierarchy--and political oppression. It is the story of how these twin strands of history became so entangled that they are often indistinguishable. Told through the lives of emblematic fathers such as Aristotle, Saint Augustine of Hippo, Henry VIII, Thomas Jefferson, Charles Darwin, and Sigmund Freud, this is an ambitious yet intimate look at how Western masculinity evolved as men reinforced and expanded the power of fathers in times of crisis and change. Sedgewick takes us on a journey across generations that transforms our understanding of a fundamental part of our lives and helps us re-envision our common future"-- Provided by publisher.
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