Death in the Dining Room and Other Tales of Victorian Culture (American Civilization)

Rating:
Summary: Looking beneath the surface . . .
Review: As teenagers, a friend and I used to play a "game": We'd walk into different environments (e.g., restaurant, upscale men's store, hippie headshop, etc.) and pretend that we were standing inside someone's brain. Then we'd make cracks about the personality, motivations, priorities, etc. of the "person," based on our material surroundings. That's really what Kenneth Ames does here -- using each room in a Victorian house.

A few years ago, when we moved into our own 1875 rowhouse, I began buying (indiscrimately) books on Victoriana. This one I picked up in shabby condition at a yard sale -- and for awhile, treated it accordingly. But in the time since, it has become one of the favored anchors of my collection. I find myself quoting it at odd moments for the simple reasons that (1) it offers lots of curious observations (e.g., that Victorian women "rocked" in rockers, while men "tilted" in chairs) that (2) can sometimes be seen as antecedents to behaviors today.

The author variously presents himself as both thoughtful essayist, and avid cataloguer (as when listing all the embroidered expressions--like "Home Sweet Home," "Peace, Be Still"--of Victorian needlework). Economically written--with an eye for the telling detail--and reasonably illustrated with photographs of the period.

Rating:
Summary: More of a book about furnishings and their history
Review: This is an interesting book and an indepth history of household furnishings and the reason they were important to folks at the turn of this century.

Chapter One is "First Impressions" which deals at length with entry foyer furniture and how it was used. Hall racks, card stands and hall chairs are all discussed in this chapter.

Chapter Two is "Death in the dining room" - which gets it's name from the slain game often depicted on victorian dining room furniture - such as side boards and buffets.

Chapter Three is "Words to Live by" - Samplers, wall hangings and other embroidered or metal stamped messages.

Chapter Four is "When the Music Stops" which covers the societal importance of pump organs and how music was very important to a Victorian woman.

Chapter Five is "Posture and Power" - a chapter about living room (parlor) furniture.

There are a zillion interesting little factoids about life at the turn of this century. And it does give you a good feel for etiquette and expectations and the rules back then.

And it answered questions for me - like "Why was parlor furniture so uncomfortable and rigid?" Because Victorians placed great emphasis on the importance of self-control as an invaluable discipline. Comfortable furniture suggested mental laziness. (My paraphrase)

So it does give some insights into why things were the way they were. Lots of history there.

But when I picked it up, I thought it was a book on old houses, not old furniture. I thought the title was an allusion to the fact that 100 years ago, funerals were held in the dining room, which is the reason many old house dining rooms have an entry door - so the visitors could graciously and easily leave the house after the viewing. It is not that kind of book. But I still enjoyed reading it.

It is a large book with one or more pictures of antique furnishings on every page. A good resource for someone who wants to recreate a historic interior.

Rating:
Summary: Looking beneath the surface . . .
Review: This is an interesting book and an indepth history of household furnishings and the reason they were important to folks at the turn of this century.

Chapter One is "First Impressions" which deals at length with entry foyer furniture and how it was used. Hall racks, card stands and hall chairs are all discussed in this chapter.

Chapter Two is "Death in the dining room" - which gets it's name from the slain game often depicted on victorian dining room furniture - such as side boards and buffets.

Chapter Three is "Words to Live by" - Samplers, wall hangings and other embroidered or metal stamped messages.

Chapter Four is "When the Music Stops" which covers the societal importance of pump organs and how music was very important to a Victorian woman.

Chapter Five is "Posture and Power" - a chapter about living room (parlor) furniture.

There are a zillion interesting little factoids about life at the turn of this century. And it does give you a good feel for etiquette and expectations and the rules back then.

And it answered questions for me - like "Why was parlor furniture so uncomfortable and rigid?" Because Victorians placed great emphasis on the importance of self-control as an invaluable discipline. Comfortable furniture suggested mental laziness. (My paraphrase)

So it does give some insights into why things were the way they were. Lots of history there.

But when I picked it up, I thought it was a book on old houses, not old furniture. I thought the title was an allusion to the fact that 100 years ago, funerals were held in the dining room, which is the reason many old house dining rooms have an entry door - so the visitors could graciously and easily leave the house after the viewing. It is not that kind of book. But I still enjoyed reading it.

It is a large book with one or more pictures of antique furnishings on every page. A good resource for someone who wants to recreate a historic interior.