Ridiculous History
Ridiculous History
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CLASSIC: English Men Used to Sell Their Wives
23 minutes Posted Jan 12, 2026 at 2:57 pm.
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In late 17th-century England, it was almost impossible for anyone outside of the upper class to successfully get a divorce -- the process was expensive and required approval from both the church and the government. As a result, some couples agreed to end their unhappy marriages through a bizarre practice known as 'wife selling'. And, unfortunately, it's exactly what it sounds like.

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