"The Marriage Bed" by Jean Clark is one of those books that makes you happy to have read it. The book tells about the simple life of a young Dutch woman, covering the twenty plus years she lives in the Hudson Valley area of New York. There is nothing flashy about the story, it is just about growing up, falling in love, getting married, and the ups and down that go with a normal life.

Margretta comes to Van Baden estate in 1740 to teach the children of the church leader. The Van Baden estate is in effect a town owned by the lord of the manor. It is part of the old Dutch tenet farmer arrangement. It is through Margretta that we see both sides of the estate system, as she dates, and marries and has a family. She is the one person in the book who moves within all the classes.

This is also the story of love. The love that is a marriage. There are the good and happy and passionate times, as well as those that try a love to the breaking point. The twenty some years of a basic life are told through Margetta's eyes, and with her understanding. It is a wonderful story. It is also a nice simple introduction to the history of the Hudson Valley Dutch area. You will find this book to be an enjoyable read. ( )