Currently reading
A London Family, 1870-1900: A Trilogy
The Cellist of Sarajevo
Lives of a Cell: Notes of a Biology Watcher
All the Names
A History of the World in 100 Objects
Down the Garden Path
Virtue Betray'd, Or, Anna Bullen
Year of Wonders
Swallows and Amazons
Illusion in java
I know quite a bit about 19th century life, through many years of reading books written then. But this book was full of stuff I didn't know, especially all the intricacies of death rituals, wills, politics, medical care, social classes, and sexual mores. I will definitely read Austen, Dickens, Trollope, Harding, and the like with a different eye now. It makes a lot more sense why certain things are important or worrisome. Absolutely fascinating. Actually kept me up late! You can't say that about many reference books. Author has a sense of humor too.