The Writer's Guide to Everyday Life in Regency and Victorian England

This book is a really good quick reference guide. Sometimes it can be difficult to review the historical elements of the Victorian period. Although I would like a little bit more detail in a few of the categories, this book does its job in providing a quick look into Victorian life.

While interesting and entertaining, this should not be considered a definitive guide to daily life in Regency and Victorian England. Kristine Hughes does a good job of giving the reader examples of historical writings on subjects such as etiquette and dress. Nevertheless, these few anacdotal resources do not constitute authoritative evidence that this is actually how people behaved in their everyday life. Just as a modern etiquette book reflects an idealized view of modern life rather than an accurate picture of how we really live, these original sources do not necessarily reflect the real lifestyles of the times. So long as you keep this caveat in mind, you will find this a very entertaining and readable book. The scope is extensive - everything from household appliances to travel to the various social institutions. There are many topics that will peak your interest, but consider this to be just the starting point for your research.

I realize that there are books that are better and more complete about life in Victorian England (and Regency), but, for the novice or one who just wants the basics, this book can't be beat. I felt it was well written and very understandable. I guess what I really like best about it is that it gives me a whole lot of information about the lower middle class and the poorer classes, especially country folk, which helps tremendously in piecing together the way my ancestors may have lived. I use this book (and the others in this series) quite often in my research.

Whereas other reviewers were turned off by this book's inadequacies, I found it to be a good starting point for someone interested in the nineteenth century. Though by no means is it a definitive guide, its introduction to the era through categorized chapters makes for an interesting and informative read. I've found the bibliographies in each chapter to be very useful, since they provide leads on other works that would've taken me much longer to track down. With chapters on military, food, home life, business, and other topics, this book does a decent job of detailing the ins-and-outs of the upper- and middle-class Victorian lifestyle.

Kristine Hughes knows her topic! This book seems much more historically accurate than What Jane Austen Ate... and it is easy to find the desired materials in Hughes' book.Hughes is a well-known researcher and speaker, and her knowledge shines in this book. Enjoy!

For anyone writing about England during the 19th century, or anyone who is simply interested in this wonderfully rich time and place, this is a must-have book. Ms. Hughes is a first-rate researcher and her work sparkles with wit, wisdom, and passion.Brava, Kristine...and thanks!-Emma Jensen