This book is a complete gem that I randomly found last night while browsing around my recommendations, and after reading the Introduction, not the actual first chapter but only the Introduction, I knew I had to read this whole thing.
To break this down quickly, yes, this is mainly a history of everyday Victorian life, from waking up to getting ready to social interaction, with bits about the society at all levels, from poverty-stricken to well-to-do upper-middle class. And I bet that there are so many kinds of books like this out there, and there are since I've read a few great ones, but this one just stands out. Not for its in-depth recitation of all the facts concerning Victorian life, but rather for the truly hilarious presentation of the information to the reader. And it is hilarious.
The story, or rather the Intro, starts out as the reader (you, who is also identified as female) approaches the author (an omnipotent, time-traveler) that allows the reader to go back to the Victorian age to experience the life of a glamorous, wealthy Victorian woman (just like in her fave historical fiction fantasies), searching for love in all the wrong places.
However, as the reader comes to learn, the Victorian age wasn't all gorgeous gowns, balls and galas, and a high-society true-love stories. Good God, no. With issues of basic sanitation being at an all-time low, no working plumbing, horse (and other) excrement piled high in the streets, absolutely no personal female rights, an incredibly judgmental class system that constantly worked against you if you have a uterus, abysmal medical care, and more, the reader slowly begins to understand that the Victorian appeal is so overrated and hidden behind rose-tinted glasses. But the best part of it all, is that the author delivers all this information with perfect comedic timing and outrageous sarcasm. Honestly, I've been reading this book out loud to myself and have cracked up laughing at the little zingers and one-liners hidden away in the text! I've already read over half the book in one night, it was that good and funny. I can't wait to read the rest of it soon.
As for the personal recommendation to another reader, if you like historical facts that may border on the bizarre and almost unbelievable, try out this book. If you like a book that is light-hearted and witty, try out this book today. If you like history with a funny narrative, creative imagery, and just want to sit back and have fun with a book, then try this book right now. Go on, get it!
However, just to play the advocate, if you are looking for a historical reference with more research, more detail, and more bite for your particular hunger, then definitely look at "How to Be A Victorian" by Ruth Goodman. Ruth Goodman is an esteemed historian that really tries on the shoes of her historical figures, wearing the clothing, making the recipes, doing the everyday work and labor that sustains the lifetstyles in the books she writes. Her Victorian book (as well as her Tudor book) offer a wealth of information concerning literally everything that involves living and working in a certain time period. If you want a genuinely toothy history book to reference, check out Ruth Goodman. She's amazing.
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