Matthew Sommer

I am a social and legal historian of China in the Qing dynasty (1644-1912). My research focuses on gender, sexuality, and family, and the main source for my work is original legal case records from local and central archives in China. I have published two books so far: SEX, LAW, AND SOCIETY IN LATE IMPERIAL CHINA (Stanford UP, 2000) and POLYANDRY AND WIFE-SELLING IN QING DYNASTY CHINA: SURVIVAL STRATEGIES AND JUDICIAL INTERVENTIONS (U of California P, 2015). I recently completed the manuscript of my third book, tentatively entitled THE STONE MAIDEN WHO BECAME A NUN, AND OTHER TRANSGENDER TALES FROM LATE IMPERIAL CHINA, which is now submitted and under review for publication. Future plans include a fourth book entitled MALE SAME-SEX RELATIONS AND MASCULINITY IN QING CHINA, for which the research is already completed, and a fifth entitled CRIMINAL PROCEDURE IN EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY CHINA: THE QING JUDICIARY IN ACTION.
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Read an interview with Matthew Sommer in 《南方周末》:
http://www.infzm.com/content/108529
Listen to Carla Nappi's interview with Matthew Sommer about his new book:
http://newbooksnetwork.com/matthew-h-sommer-polyandry-and-wife-selling-…