Opponents of same-sex marriage frequently appeal to the supposedly unchanging norm of heterosexual monogamy. Mixed matches shows the historical inaccuracy of this view and illustrates the highly flexible nature of marriage in early modern Germany. Luebke's introduction neatly sets the scene and provides a useful link to present debates. The first three chapters address the impact of the Reformation on marital norms. Whitford's chapter on Luther's advice on marriage and bigamy demonstrates that political expediency and subjective sympathies trumped theological absolutes. Breul provides a case study of Hersfeld in Hesse where in 1523 the civic authorities compelled priests to marry their concubines or depart, thereby simultaneously denying ecclesiastical jurisdiction and rejecting clerical celibacy. Plummer examines the problems that arose when monks and nuns began to marry: not only Catholics considered them bigamists (they were married to God), self-perjurers (they broke vows of celibacy) and – when monks married nuns – incestuous by dint of their spiritual kinship. Fuchs and Sikora study transgressions of social rank. Fuchs examines honour disputes resulting from socially unequal unions and shows that marriage became increasingly risky for the honour of both parties. Sikora explores relationships between nobles and commoners, focusing especially on the social consequences that the (morganatic) wives and their children faced. The following three chapters address unions across confessional boundaries. Freist illustrates the considerable pragmatism with which marriage partners of different denominations resolved problems such as the faith in which their children should be raised. Riches details the marriage negotiations between Christina of Sweden and Elector Friedrich-Wilhelm which failed not least because of their confessional differences. Schunka examines inter-denominational Protestant royal marriages and their impact on confessional dialogue around 1700. Flüchter studies trans-ethnic marriages between Europeans and non-Europeans in India, arguing that the ethnically and socially transgressive aspects of these unions were easily negotiable while relationships between Christians and ‘heathens’ were taboo. Jarzebowski provides a fascinating analysis of the changing conceptualisations of kinship in the early modern period and the resultant redefinitions of what constituted incest. Especially noteworthy is her observation that love had to be performed – not merely felt – in order to take effect. Lindemann, finally, re-examines the Guyard affair, an eighteenth-century case of incest in Hamburg which in many ways focussed on ‘smutty’ literature as a tool for grooming. The volume concludes with a very perceptive afterword by Joel Harrington. This well-researched and well-edited collection is a stimulating contribution to the historiography of marriage. The present reader was, however, surprised by the lack of interest in the emotions evident in most chapters. Especially because trangressive unions were never the easy option, it seems unlikely that marriages were just sober socio-economic contracts, and one wonders about the importance of love or at least emotional attraction. Irrespective of this minor point, this is a remarkable book.