Keeping Hearth and Home in Old Ohio: A Practical Primer for Daily Living

by Carol Padgett

Keeping Hearth & Home in Old Ohio is a "how-to" book, but not for you. Drawn from a wealth of authentic Victorian-era books and magazines, it is like the book your great- or great-great grandmother might have read at age 17 to prepare herself for the etiquette of courting, to learn how to conduct herself in public, and to learn what would be required of her during marriage. Later, she might have read the same book through all over again, for ideas...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 089732420X
• ISBN13: 9780897324205
• Release Date: November 2001
• Publisher: Menasha Ridge Press
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.0" x 7.0"

Customer Reviews

Some Things Never Change...and Then Some Do...Thank Goodness

As a "Baby Boomer" who came of age in the 1970's, I remember a lot of hype about the concept of the "feminine mystique." It sounded like something I needed to understand...I guess I finally did. I don't care how far we women have come in the cause of equality and liberation, most of us still harbor a secret desire to be "soft" but "strong;" "smart" but "vulnerable:" "efficient" but "sexy." After reading Carol's book (and laughing a whole lot at the archaic language) I believe we are no different from our grandmothers and great-grandmothers. Wisdom,humor, and a good bit of common sense areeverywhere in this book.Carol has done extensive research to bring entertaining as well as pertinent information to those of us who are on an eternal quest to be all things to all of the people in our lives. Although the recipes for making your own cold cream will probably not be high on your list of "must do asap," the advice she relays in her chapter on "Considering Marriage" would be approved by Dr. Laura, Ann Landers, and your personal clergy! I highly recommend this book and the coming series that will include the totally enlightened sage advice of the premier Victorian authorities who give us the most up to date advice for "Coping with the Everyday Life of the 19th Century Homemaker."

Keeping Hearth and Home in Old Ohio

Keeping Hearth and Home in Old Ohio is a well researched and very readable collection of information which would have been of vital importance to a woman living in the late 1800s. It is intriquing to those of us interested women's place in history. The author has included information about all facets of life: habits becoming a lady, advice for a bride, how to raise healthy children, meal preparation, etc. She includes recipes for cooking, grooming, health cures, and other household needs. Many of the hints for better living are as pertinent in 2002 as they were in 1882. Many, provide us with a healthy chuckle as we read.