Staff Reviews
I have loved Ruth Goodman ever since I saw Edwardian Farm. Domestic Revolution combines her astute and meticulous research with a humorous, entertaining presentation style. This book concentrates on the changeover from wood and other traditional fuels to coal in England between the 17th and 19th centuries. Goodman traces the ripple effects in both economic and domestic life. Her experience as a living historian allows for fascinating anecdotes in addition to research utilizing primary resources. This book is a fantastic read for anyone with an interest in history, especially the changing life of England!
— From What Kathleen Is ReadingDescription
“Our domestic Sherlock brims with excitement” (Roger Lowenstein, Wall Street Journal) in this erudite romp through the smoke-stained, coal-fired houses of Victorian England.
“The queen of living history” (Lucy Worsley) dazzles anglophiles and history lovers alike with this immersive account of how English women sparked a worldwide revolution—from their own kitchens. Wielding the same wit and passion as seen in How to Be a Victorian, Ruth Goodman shows that the hot coal stove provided so much more than morning tea. As Goodman traces the amazing shift from wood to coal in mid-sixteenth century England, a pattern of innovation emerges as the women stoking these fires also stoked new global industries: from better soap to clean smudges to new ingredients for cooking. Laced with irresistibly charming anecdotes of Goodman’s own experience managing a coal-fired household, The Domestic Revolution shines a hot light on the power of domestic necessity.
About the Author
Ruth Goodman is the author of multiple books including How to Be a Victorian. An historian of British life, she has presented a number of BBC television series, including Tudor Monastery Farm. She lives in the United Kingdom.
