Synopses & Reviews
For every frustrated reader of the great nineteenth-century English novels of Austen, Trollope, Dickens, or the Brontës who has ever wondered whether a duke outranked an earl, when to yell "Tally Ho!" at a fox hunt, or how one landed in "debtor's prison," here is a "delightful reader's companion that lights up the literary dark" (
The New York Times).
This fascinating, lively guide clarifies the sometimes bizarre maze of rules, regulations, and customs that governed everyday life in Victorian England. Author Daniel Pool provides countless intriguing details (did you know that the "plums" in Christmas plum pudding were actually raisins?) on the Church of England, sex, Parliament, dinner parties, country house visiting, and a host of other aspects of nineteenth-century English life both "upstairs" and "downstairs."
An illuminating glossary gives at a glance the meaning and significance of terms ranging from "ague" to "wainscoting," the specifics of the currency system, and a lively host of other details and curiosities of the day.
Review
"Although there are many books on the social history of 19th-century Britain...this volume is useful because of its concise chapters and lengthy glossary." Library Journal
Synopsis
A "delightful reader's companion" (The New York Times) to the great nineteenth-century British novels of Austen, Dickens, Trollope, the Brontes, and more, this lively guide clarifies the sometimes bizarre maze of rules and customs that governed life in Victorian England.
For anyone who has ever wondered whether a duke outranked an earl, when to yell "Tally Ho " at a fox hunt, or how one landed in "debtor's prison," this book serves as an indispensable historical and literary resource. Author Daniel Pool provides countless intriguing details (did you know that the "plums" in Christmas plum pudding were actually raisins?) on the Church of England, sex, Parliament, dinner parties, country house visiting, and a host of other aspects of nineteenth-century English life--both "upstairs" and "downstairs.
An illuminating glossary gives at a glance the meaning and significance of terms ranging from "ague" to "wainscoting," the specifics of the currency system, and a lively host of other details and curiosities of the day.
About the Author
Daniel Pool received a doctorate in political science from Brandeis University and a law degree from Columbia University. He lives in New York City.
Table of Contents
andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Contentsandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Introductionandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Part Oneandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;The Basicsandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Currencyandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Calendarandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Hogsheads and Drams: English Measurementandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Englandandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Londonandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;The Public Worldandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Precedence: Of Bishops, Barristers, and Baronetsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Titledandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;How to Address Your Bettersandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Esq., Gent., K.C.B., etc.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Status: Gentlemen and Lesser Folkandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Societyandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Society and "The Season"andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Basic Etiquetteandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;How to Address the Nontitledandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;"May I Have This Dance?"andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Rules of Whist and Other Card Gamesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Calling Cards and Callsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Major Ritualsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Presentation at Courtandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Dinner Partyandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Ballandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Country House Visitandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Moneyandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Being Wealthyandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Entail and Protecting the Estateandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Bankruptcy, Debt, and Moneylendingandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Power and the Establishmentandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Governmentandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Britannia Rules the Wavesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Armyandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Church of Englandandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Oxford and Cambridgeandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Schoolsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;"The Law Is a Ass"andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Lawyersandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Crime and Punishmentandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Transitionandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Horseandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Please, James, the Coachandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Railroadandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Mailandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;The Countryandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Life on the Farmandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Midlands, Wessex, and Yorkshireandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Who's Who in the Countryandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Shire and Shire Alike: Local Government in Britainandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;"The Theory and System of Fox Hunting"andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Vermin, Poachers, and Keepersandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Fairs and Marketsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Private Worldandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;"Reader, I Married Him"andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Sexandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;An Englishman's Homeandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Houses with Namesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Furnitureandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Lightingandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;How the English Kept Cleanandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;"Please, Sir, I Want Some More."andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Pudding!andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Teaandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Drink and the Evils Thereofandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Women's Clothingandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Men's Clothingandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Servantsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Governessandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;A Taxonomy of Maidsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Victorian Recyclingandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;The Grim Worldandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Orphanandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Occupationsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Apprenticesandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Workhouseandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Diseaseandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Doctorsandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Death and Other Grave Mattersandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Part Twoandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Glossaryandlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Bibliographyandlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Index