How to be a Victorian

Ruth Goodman believes in getting her hands dirty. Drawing on her own adventures living in re-created Victorian conditions Goodman serves as our bustling and fanciful guide to nineteenth-century life. Proceeding from daybreak to bedtime this charming work celebrates the ordinary lives of the most perennially fascinating era of British history. From waking up to the rapping of a 'knocker-upper man' on the window pane to lacing into a corset after a round of calisthenics from slipping opium to the little ones to finally retiring to the bedroom for the ideal combination of 'love consideration control and pleasure' the weird wonderful and somewhat gruesome intricacies of Victorian life are vividly rendered here.