Part memoir, part micro-history, this is an exploration of the present through the lens of the past. We all know that the best way to study a foreign language is to go to a country where it’s spoken, but can the same immersion method be applied to history? How do interactions with antique objects influence perceptions of the modern world? From Victorian beauty regimes to nineteenth-century … regimes to nineteenth-century bicycles, custard recipes to taxidermy experiments, oil lamps to an ice box, Sarah and Gabriel Chrisman decided to explore nineteenth-century culture and technologies from the inside out. Even the deepest aspects of their lives became affected, and the more immersed they became in the late Victorian era, the more aware they grew of its legacies permeating the twenty-first century.
Most of us have dreamed of time travel, but what if that dream could come true? Certain universal constants remain steady for all people regardless of time or place. No matter where, when, or who we are, humans share similar passions and fears, joys and triumphs.
In her first book, Victorian Secrets, Chrisman recalled the first year she spent wearing a Victorian corset 24/7. In This Victorian Life, Chrisman picks up where Secrets left off and documents her complete shift into living as though she were in the nineteenth century.
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anyone who loves the Victorian era, fashion, and the social history of a women’s role(s) will love this book.
This book cured me of ever wanting to live back in Victorian times. I admired their determination to live exactly as people lived at the turn of the century but I wonder how long you can keep it up.
Good history lessons here. If you are wondering what it would be like to live with certain creature comforts from 1890, it is explained in full detail… sometimes too full. But I got past that. This is a brave couple to live in their community as from the Victorian era and the book offers a glimpse into their path to get there.
Interesting review of a real life experience. I did wish there was more personality to the characters; the telling was a bit dry. But the life this couple is choosing to live is quite fascinating.
Fascinating read, but a hint of “aren’t we better than the rest of you.”
Authors Blech and Doliner detail an interesting theory about the deep meaning of the images Michelangelo painted in the Sistine Chapel. Their ideas are carefully and thoroughly documented and are related in copious illustrations (which, for once, were clear on my Kindle – I could even adjust the size of the images to better see the relevant points).
Readers interested in Michelangelo and in the intended meaning of art will enjoy this book. I highly recommend it.
Interesting to see a couple willing to embrace this lifestyle in such a complete way:
making a mattress for example; wearing corset all the time; traveling on bicycles of the area. Just interesting because of the seriousness of the author and her husband and their diligence in carrying out this lifestyle, and sharing their experiences with whomever might be interested.
Although this couple claims to want to live a Victorian life, they clearly do not set their standard of living according to comparative incomes. The life they choose, as is that of many reenactment fans, above the standard they would have lived at the time. Pick and choose historical reenactment is simply a romantic notion carried outside the bounds of history and historical research. They are living a fairytale of their own creation, NOT a Victorian life.
Very interesting reading how this couple lives the Victorian lifestyle in the 21st century.
It wasn’t a page-turner, but it was compellling. It is also curious that a young college-grad couple would chose to duplicate 19th century living. It caused me to challenge my own outlook on what thinks I really need and consider seriously courting a simpler way of life b
Here we meet a pair of non-conformists who are following their dream to live the life of our great-grandparents in an old Victorian house in the Pacific Northwest. Ours is not to judge though some folks on the web have made their stories seem superficial. I loved the determination with which they chose to live their lives. A fun read! I now know what a chatelaine is!
This book tries to put you in the life of the victorians, not the victorians of long dresses and courtly manners, but the age of poor hygiene and strict social class structure. Fun to visit, but you wouldn’t want to live there!
I dip into this book a little at a time. Really informative about Victorian lifestyles, fascinating reading.
I learned more about the Victorian age by following the author’s daily activities of living a Victorian lifestyle (as much as possible) in this modern day.
As other reviewers have said — this wasn’t what I expected. It turned out it didn’t matter. There is a fine art to telling a personal story and 90% of all authors who try fail miserably because in truth it’s not all about them. This book is an exception. She opens her life and her recreation of the Victorian era in a manner that invites you to join her — even if you would never consider living there.
It was so much fun to take this trip “back into time” with the author. It was so much fun to read about their adventures in living in the 19th century during the 21st century. Admire them both for their sense of adventure.
This could have been a very interesting book, but it was so rambling and convoluted that I finally gave up on it. She starts a topic, then you have 4 pages of rambling about why this is a topic….and by then, I am beyond being interested. I really wanted to enjoy ook, but ….we all know people who just ramble in circles and can’t seem to get to the point. I’m so disappointed.
This is a very easy to read account of the author and her husband’s project to live as Victorians in the present day. This includes dressing like a Victorian, living in a period-correct house without central heating. The period stove arrives in the last chapter so, alas, we don’t get to see how the author manages to learn to cook on it, but she does discuss multiple other facets of life a hundred years ago. Very entertaining.
Tedious!