September Book Tuesday

Today is the 1st of September, and also the first Tuesday of September so here is a couple of Book Tuesday selections for you.

Enjoy

Victorian Society of Alberta

 

 Sharing the Good Times, A History of Prairie Women’s Joys and Pleasures

- by Faye Reineberg Holt

 

Leisure and pleasure may never have been the top priority of prairie women, but the pursuit of joy has always been important. Today, the common perception of western women during the early settlement years is one of an overworked, stoic martyr. In a life filled with household drudgery, there could be no energy left for laughter and fun. That perception is as misleading as the generalizations that women didn't want or have political power in the years before the First World War, that they did not work outside the home or that all women desired marriage and children. The lives of western Canadian women settlers were difficult, it's true, but history has often overlooked the fun, joyfulness and frivolity to be found even in the midst of hardship. Filled with excerpts of the writing of women from 1870 to 1960, interviews, and many archival photos, this book takes a look at the lighter side of prairie women's lives. From love, marriage and family, to community activities, arts and crafts, sports, travel and much more, this book is a lively complement to any history buff's collection.

 

 Victorian Farm, Rediscovering Forgotten Skills

– by Alex Langlands, Peter Ginn & Ruth Goodman

No electricity, no gas, no flushing toilet . . . and no tractor! Could you survive a year on a Victorian farm? In this fascinating time-traveling experiment a team of historians spend a year recreating farm life in 1885. Accompanying the television series, this book follows the team as they try to run a farm using only materials and resources that would have been available to them in the Victorian era. This was a crucial period in the history of Britain—rapid industrialization had radically changed life in the cites but rural communities used a mixture of centuries-old and pioneering modern practices. Packed with informative text and photographs from the farm year, this book reveals exactly what the Victorians ate and wore and how they managed their animals, farmed the land, and organized their lives. In-depth features describe revolutionary advances in more detail, including new inventions, new breeding methods, and advances in agricultural science. Practical projects allow you to join the historians in rediscovering Victorian crafts, cooking, and home care.

 

Providing a real insight into life on a Victorian farm, this series is also a fascinating reminder of how history comes full circle. The organic diet of 1885, use of natural products for cleaning and healthcare and interests in crafts and gardening are of increasing relevance today as we look for a more responsible way of living over 120 years later.