Mrs. Beeton's Book of Household Management: The 1861 Classic with Advice on Cooking, Cleaning, Childrearing, Entertaining, and More

I ordered the book and the book was not in the package when it was delivered.

This book is written in such a way that you are drawn into the past and standing alongside the mistress of the house...planning your day and making sure the "household help" do their jobs well. It certainly reminds us of the benfits we have currently - with washing machines, dishwashers, automobiles, pre-packaged food and yes,fast food, yet still don't have enough time to do all the things we need/want to do. How would you like to dress your own cow or help make every article of clothing you wear (even though the "hired help" did most of it)? A brief introduction to the book instills in the reader a sense of where Mrs. Beeton arrived at her thoughts for "proper household management." She seems to have been frustrated by societal changes she was witnessing and wanted her "good ol' days" to return. It is a book I highly recommend not only for the history, but for the entertainment value. I could not put it down once I started.

This is an Oxford Worlds Classic. The revolutionary thing here is that a cook book has been brought out in an academic edition for historians interested in mid-19th century Britain. This edition has a scholarly introduction and notes that help to set Mrs Beeton in context of the very high quality that is always expected from the Oxford University Press. Besides, I gather that other (expensive) seemingly original editions were often altered by early publishers. This fascinating book requires no further justification.

The complete guide to pretty much everything involved in running a household in the early half of the 20th century, and many of the instructions in this book still hold true today. Whether you want to know the correct way of writing to the Queen, or just want to know how to make a nice dessert it's all covered here. No home should be without this!

Inside you will not only find all kinds of information on cooking and the products used but loads of drawings of kitchen gadgets and food dishes, information on how a victorian kept a household and the servants within, cared for the sick, maintained a degree of ettiquette as well as planned the type of meals held throughout the year for family and guests. This is certainly a wonderful read and the recipies are easy to follow.