The Modes of Female Friendship as Told by a Victorian-Era Minister

1872. ALGER, W.R. The Friendships of Women. Boston: Roberts Brothers, 1872. Comes in original green cloth binding. 416 pages. 7" x 5" inches. Alger was a Unitarian minister and author who weaves together historical examples and philosophical and sociological musings to analyze female social life in its various modes: platonic love, friendship of sisters, the father and daughter, etc. Alger's decision to look at women's social life as a subject of intellectual interest is peculiar for its time period, but stems from being "struck both by the small number of recorded examples of the sentiment among women... and by the commonness of the belief that strong natural obstacles make friendship comparatively feeble and rare." Alger even has a critique of sorts against a system of "prejudice in England and America against friendships between men and women" which has "operated considerably to lessen their frequency." Minor bumping on tail and headcap of spine, overall in very good condition,