'How to Be a Victorian' by Ruth Goodman is a comprehensive exploration of daily life during the Victorian era in England. The author, known for her hands-on approach, delves into various aspects of Victorian society, including work, leisure, hygiene, clothing, and even intimate details like sex and marriage. By immersing herself in the world of the Victorians, Goodman provides readers with a vivid and detailed account of what it was like to live during this period, offering a unique perspective that blends historical research with personal experience.

Writing/Prose:

The prose is accessible and engaging, often blending detailed historical research with the author's personal experiences for relatability.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative offers a comprehensive look into the daily life of Victorians, highlighting both mundane routines and broader cultural practices.

Setting:

Set against the backdrop of 19th century England, the book captures various locations and social dynamics of the Victorian era.

Pacing:

The pacing maintains reader interest with a brisk flow, though some descriptions may slow down the narrative.

Once you were up, to add warmth and comfort to an otherwise chilled start, at any hour, you would hope to step out on to a mat rather than the bare wooden floor. Aristocratic homes had handsome woven ...

Genres:

nonfiction

social history

cultural history

Topics:

daily routines

social class differences

health and hygiene practices

leisure activities

gender roles

child labor

food and cooking methods

social class disparity

Notes:

The book explores a typical day in the life of a Victorian, from waking up to going to bed.

Ruth Goodman has firsthand experience living as a Victorian, having worn the clothes and used the methods.

Victorians did not have showers, but they had effective cleaning methods for their hair and skin.

The book details the many layers of Victorian clothing, how they were made, and how they felt to wear.

Daily meals for the lower classes were often meager, while the upper classes had much more variety.

Victorian children often began working at ages five or six, with long hours and dangerous conditions.

Life expectancy was low, especially for women during childbirth, regardless of class.

Ruth Goodman includes her own experiences trying out Victorian cooking and grooming methods, like hair gel and toothpaste recipes.

The book provides insight into Victorian attitudes towards women, health, and child labor, highlighting significant inequalities.

Goodman emphasizes that while we romanticize the Victorians, life was often cold, hungry, and hard for most people.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include descriptions of child labor, social inequalities, and historical practices related to health, probably disturbing to some readers.

From The Publisher:

Named one of the Best Books of the Year by NPR

A "revelatory" (Wall Street Journal) romp through the intimate details of Victorian life, by an historian who has cheerfully endured them all.

Lauded by critics, How to Be a Victorian is an enchanting manual for the insatiably curious, the "the cheapest time-travel machine you'll find" (NPR). Readers have fallen in love with Ruth Goodman, an historian who believes in getting her hands dirty. Drawing on her own firsthand adventures living in re-created Victorian conditions, Goodman serves as our bustling guide to nineteenth-century life. Proceeding from daybreak to bedtime, this charming, illustrative work "imagines the Victorians as intrepid survivors" (New Republic) of the most perennially fascinating era of British history. From lacing into a corset after a round of calisthenics to slipping opium to the little ones, Goodman's account of Victorian life "makes you feel as if you could pass as a native" (The New Yorker).

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About the Author:

Ruth Goodman is the author of multiple books including How to Be a Victorian. An historian of British life, she has presented a number of BBC television series, including Tudor Monastery Farm. She lives in the United Kingdom.

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How to Be a Victorian

Ruth Goodman