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If Walls Could Talk

An intimate history of the home
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( 5,715 ratings, 698 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
If Walls Could Talk by Lucy Worsley delves into the intriguing history of domestic life, revealing the evolution of rooms and household routines from the medieval era to the present. Through Worsley's engaging narrative, readers explore how ordinary spaces, like the bedroom and kitchen, have undergone transformations that reflect broader social changes. The book offers a fascinating insight into the intimate, everyday life of past generations.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're fascinated by the history that unfolds within the everyday rooms of our homes. The author delves into the hidden stories and evolving uses of spaces like kitchens and bedrooms, offering a unique glimpse into domestic life over the centuries. This work is perfect for anyone intrigued by social history and the transformation of private life.

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A fascinating look at how people really lived, loved and died over the centuries.

If Walls Could Talk: An intimate history of the home, by Lucy Worsley, is a fascinating look at how people really lived, loved and died over the centuries, by the acclaimed historian and author of Courtiers: The Secret History of the Georgian Court and Cavalier: The Story of a 17th-Century Playboy.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Why did the flushing toilet take two centuries to catch on? Why did Samuel Pepys never give his mistresses an orgasm? Why did medieval people sleep sitting up? When were the two 'dirty centuries'? Why did gas lighting cause Victorian ladies to faint? Why, for centuries, did people fear fruit? All these questions will be answered in this juicy, smelly and truly intimate history of home life.

If Walls Could Talk takes us through the bedroom, bathroom, living room and kitchen, covering the architectural history of each room, but concentrating on what people actually did in bed, in the bath, at the table, and at the stove. From sauce-stirring to breast-feeding, teeth-cleaning to masturbation, getting dressed to getting married, this book will make you see your home with new eyes.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

If Walls Could Talk by Lucy Worsley offers an engaging exploration of the domestic lives of ordinary people throughout history, illuminated by Worsley's charming storytelling. Reviewers have praised the book for being informative, insightful, and entertaining, drawing readers into the fascinating evolution of home life and domesticity across ages. Worsley's emphasis on cultural and social changes provides a fresh perspective on everyday life, delivering a delightful combination of history and anecdote.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780571259540

Publisher: Faber & Faber

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 05 January 2012

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Faber & Faber

Edition: Main

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 22.0mm

Width: 126.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 324g

Pages: 368

About the Author

Lucy Worsley is Chief Curator of the Historic Royal Palaces, based at Hampton Court. She also appears regularly on radio and television, on BBC1's The One Show, as well as Timewatch and other history programmes. Lucy is the author of Courtiers: The Secret History of Kensington Palace and Cavalier: A Tale of Chivalry, Passion and Great Houses.

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