How to Be a Victorian: A Dawn-to-Dusk Guide to Victorian Life
If you have ever wondered about how people lived in 19th-century England—from their underclothes to breastfeeding to personal grooming to laundry—this engaging book is for you. Goodman, a historian of British domestic life, not only provides details about the minutiae of daily life, she has also experienced most of the inconveniences of what was considered “normal” at the time. She also offers advice, should the reader be wondering which corset to select (opt for the lightly boned and corded type) or what concoction to use as a dentifrice (powdered cuttlefish and soot). Chapters are arranged to follow the course of the day, beginning with rising in what was undoubtedly a cold room, through dressing, grooming, and eating, finishing with evening ablutions and a peek into Victorian sexual behavior. Differences between the social classes in terms of living conditions and habits are considered, as are those between city and country dwellers. The prose is candid and at-times humorous, punctuated by small black-and white illustrations and a section of color plates. There is no documentation, however, so readers looking for citations or suggestions for further research will need to look elsewhere.
