Customer Reviews

The Book of Household Management

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

I find that if Mrs Beeton was alive today, she would be discusted at the sight of this book. It does not have all the recipes that other cookery books of hers have in it. The best book that you can by of hers is the one called

'Mrs Beetons Book of Household Management: A Specially Enlarged First Edition Facsimile/07542'

You can find this book by clicking on the part to the left under the book search part where it says 'Other Books By Isabella Beeton'. You will find it under the 'Out Of Print' section. This will be more usefull, and has those few little recipes in them like 'Apple Jelly' or 'Christmas Cake'. It is more usefull, with more descriptive pictures in it. Do not fall into the same trap that I did.

I still love this work, a perfect picture of Victorian upper-class domestic life, but was very disappointed with the physical product. I sent back the first volume because of blacked out pages, mis-aligned pages, unreadably fuzzy print, etc. etc. etc. The second copy I received was a bit better but not much, a lot of the print was still so unclear it was illegible. I have the old facsimile edition (now out of print) so I know it's possible to have clear print and none of these problems. This is a terrible production job.

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.

this is by far one of the most well-received gifts i given to people - especially if they're Virgos! It's real, and it takes you back to another time, when you have to know the proper way to treat servants, dye wool, and boil beef for a sick person. actually, i've tried some of the recipes, and they're not bad -especailly the cakes.

A delightful find. This book is full of useful advice on such things as how to make walnut ketchup and how to make cucumbers more palatable since they are so bitter in their natural state. (Evidently the burpless cucumber hadn't been bred yet. ) The seasonal tips are most instructive on when certain seafood will be best. More affordable solutions are given when a certain ingredient is dear. It really gives an insight into middle class lifestyles of the Victorian Era. Enjoy this look into home economics of the 19th century.

I gave it as a gift to someone interested in gourmet food and history.

This book is fascenating, full of all sorts of information and cooking recipes from days gone by.
It will take me awhile to go through it, and I am sure much of the information will be used and passed on.
I bought one for my girlfriend and one for my daughter both back in Oregon, USA.
T.Kitchen

How silly to describe this as "an almost forgotten classic" when this is the most famous English cookery book ever published.

This is just a wonderful travel back in time. Such timely advice that it can still be applied today. Imagine that!