"As sociologists have discovered the centrality of emotions as organizers of social life, Jean-Claude Kaufmann has emerged as the most insightful student of how romantic life is shaped through 'sentimental education.' In The Curious History of Love, Kaufmann succeeds in demonstrating that love has been shaped through historical contingencies and contemporary expectations. Focusing on how women experience this most curious sensation - the tingly experience that we call love - Kaufmann draws from history and from personal stories to produce a lively and astute analysis that speaks to the emotional economy as a source of joy and pain." Gary Alan Fine, Northwestern University

Jean-Claude Kaufmann is Professor of Sociology at University of Paris V Sorbonne.

Contents: Introduction 1. Where Does Love Come From? 2. At The Crossroads 3. Love's Revolutionaries 4. Enter The Happy Couple 5. In Search of Happiness Conclusion A Note on Methodology References