The divorce rate has been rising throughout the 20th century, with a significant increase in the last 20 years, so that now some 45 per cent of marriages currently end in divorce. How and why has this happened? How has the law and the State changed to accommodate and facilitate this? What changes in society's attitudes have affected family breakdowns? To answer these questions Gibson takes a multi-disciplinary approach to examine the history, demography, sociology, politics and policy of divorce. In this study, the author traces the interaction between social change, marriage patterns, family law and parliamentary legislation from the 18th century to the present. He then looks at family patterns and policy choices; examines such matters as the welfare and financial support of children and their carers in the light of the new Child Support Act; and reviews the two-tier court system for handling the casualties of broken marriages.

The divorce rate has been rising throughout the 20th century, with a significant increase in the last 20 years, so that now some 45 per cent of marriages currently end in divorce. How and why has this happened? How has the law and the State changed to accommodate and facilitate this? What changes in society's attitudes have affected family breakdowns? To answer these questions Gibson takes a multi-disciplinary approach to examine the history, demography, sociology, politics and policy of divorce. In this study, the author traces the interaction between social change, marriage patterns, family law and parliamentary legislation from the 18th century to the present. He then looks at family patterns and policy choices; examines such matters as the welfare and financial support of children and their carers in the light of the new Child Support Act; and reviews the two-tier court system for handling the casualties of broken marriages.

This selection contains the three finest plays of the Stuart dramatist John Ford. The Broken Heart is a classical tragedy of suffering; 'Tis Pity She's a Whore, Ford's best-known play and one still frequently performed, is a tragic story of limitless ambition and social rivalry expressed in sexual terms; Perkin Warbeck is the last great successor to the history plays of Shakespeare. Together they exemplify the unique tone of Ford's drama, in which passion and gravity are united by a playwright with a poetic sense of theatre. This is the only one-volume selection of Ford's plays now available. The texts are modernised and equipped with notes explaining unfamiliar language and historical references. A general introduction gives a brief biography and bibliography; individual introductions deal with the sources and stage history of each play. Longer notes at the back of the book discuss points of staging and interpretation, and there is a full textual apparatus which makes this edition useful for the scholar as well as the student.

This volume provides a selection of four plays by Philip Massinger who, from 1625 to 1640, replaced John Fletcher as principal dramatist for the King's Men, the chief London theatre company for more than forty years. The selection consists of two of Massinger's finest comedies, A New Way to Pay Old Debts and The City Madam, and his two best known tragedies, The Duke of Milan and The Roman Actor. These plays have interested readers, scholars and critics for hundreds of years, and although the tragedies have seldom been performed since the seventeenth century, the comedies have a long stage tradition. A New Way to Pay Old Debts has been performed more often than any other play by Shakespeare's contemporaries, and together with The City Madam continues to delight modern audiences.

Arising from a New Zealand context and touching on universal issues, Connections offers 45 responses from the people of Dunedin Methodist Parish to the challenge of being church and living out the gospel in their community. A comment from one member typifies the strong faith, humble attitude, realism and grace which the Parish brings to its work: "My faith, such as it is, helps me to live as well as I can, and motivates me to do what I can to help others." Readers will find themselves laughing, surprised, angered and affirmed, but mostly, nodding in agreement and encouraged in their personal spiritual journey and in their Christian responses to the people around them. The articles, selected from weekly contributions 2007-2013, are grouped into five broad categories, and cover diverse topics, including: *Celebrating God's Creation: What makes a mountain or the ocean a sacred, liminal space? The links between chaos, creation and compassion. The blessings of birds, forest and simplicity. *Responding to the Gospel: Following Jesus simply. Raising children well. Resisting greed, giving, receiving and sharing. Remembering loved ones and dealing with loss. Getting people's attention. *New Ideas for Being Church: The value of ritual. Changing location brings new perspectives. What if Jesus returned today? *Seeking Justice: Putting people ahead of money. Fighting poverty. Communicating through building relationships. Lessons from the Delhi Commonwealth Games. *Working for Peace: Opposing violence against women. Peacemaking, power and politics. The cost and futility of war. Finding personal peace. Visit: www.dunedinmethodist.org.nz for more articles and information.