This book investigates the intersection of legal frameworks and social realities governing marriage in Rome from the late Republic through the Principate. Susan Treggiari, a distinguished scholar of Roman social history, synthesizes extensive legal scholarship with contemporary sociological insights to examine how the institution of marriage functioned as both a legal contract and a social necessity. She argues that while marriage served as a primary vehicle for producing legitimate heirs, it simultaneously shaped the social identity and status of women in ways that differed significantly from the experience of their male counterparts.

Scholars and historians frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the complexities of Roman domestic law and social practice. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which provides a rigorous and comprehensive analysis of the subject matter for students and researchers alike.