The Bostonian Marriage

I get a "daily word" emailed to me courtesy of the "A.Word.A.Day" email list from Wordsmith.org. I received this intriguing phrase yesterday and it made me think of the unique nature of female companionship throughout the ages. I wonder just how many "boston marriages" were really lesbian relationships in disguise?

Boston marriage (BOS-tuhn MAR-ij, BAW-stuhn -) noun

A long-term, intimate friendship between two women, often sharing a household.

[After Boston (and other areas in the Northeast US) where such arrangements occurred during the 19th century. Perhaps popularized by Henry James's 1886 novel The Bostonians that portrayed such relationships.]

Oh to live in Boston!

Methinks I will add "The Bostonians" to my list of books to read.

I've just discovered that this fair city played a vital role in US gay and lesbian history. Isn't it amazing the things you learn when simple curiosity takes you down a meandering path? All this from my word-of-the-day newsletter.