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How to Be a Victorian cover art

How to Be a Victorian

By: Ruth Goodman
Narrated by: Patience Tomlinson
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Summary

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of How to Be a Victorian by Ruth Goodman, read by Patience Tomlinson.

How to be a Victorian - a time traveller's guide to Victorian Britain by the BBC's Ruth Goodman. 

We know what life was like for Victoria and Albert. But what was it like for a commoner like you or me? How did it feel to cook with coal and wash with tea leaves? Drink beer for breakfast and clean your teeth with cuttlefish? Dress in whalebone and feed opium to the baby? Surviving everyday life came down to the gritty details, the small necessities and tricks of living.

Drawing on Ruth's unique first-hand experience, gained from living on a Victorian farm for a year, this book will teach you everything you need to know about 19th-century living.

If you liked A Time Traveller's Guide to Medieval England or If Walls Could Talk, you will love this book.

©2018 Ruth Goodman (P)2018 Penguin Audio
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

What listeners say about How to Be a Victorian

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Very real

Very interesting to listen to and it feels real, the author adds her own experiences and thoughts and reflections.

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Full and comprehensive overview

I thought I knew a bit about the poverty and general life of the Victorians, but after having listened to Ruth Goodman’s excellent book, I am overwhelmed by the amount I didn’t know and how much I have learnt. Incredibly thorough and comprehensive, this is an epic investigation into the lay man, woman and child of Victorian Britain. Describing everything from education, food, sleep, class and sex very clearly and with great honesty and insight. I will be looking out her other publications once I have had a chance to digest the mammoth journey I feel I have been on since the beginning of this book. Thank you Ruth Goodman!

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Excellent insight into Victorian life

I'm a big fan of the 'Time Travellers guide' series and I thoroughly enjoyed this!

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loved it .

I could listen to this over and over, and have done. really interesting and beautifully read.

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Love it.

Excellent book. Well read by Patience Tomlinson. More of the same please. And hurry up!

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Amazing book to engage with day to day life.

I absolutely love Ruth Goodman as a historian and had high expectations for this book. My expectations where exceeded, as this was thoroughly enjoyable to listen to. The ordering of the books allows the reader to gain a strong insight into the daily life of the average Victorian’s. Would absolutely recommend reading.

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Fantastic detail

I have listened to this book twice, back to back. It is wonderfully written in the most incredible detail. Categorised in a very satisfying way it is a wonderfully researched book.

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exceptionally interesting read.

This book is totally absorbing, engaging and entertaining.The subject matter is meticulously researched and very well narrated.

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How to be a Victorian

A lively fascinating account account of an era that has now slipped out of living memory

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A REALLY GOOD LISTEN.

An excellent account of Victorian Britain. Well researched and well structured. This has, undoubtedly, helped me in my own research. Thank you, Ms Goodman!

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