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Rating: 
Summary: Useful and informative, but...
Review: A useful book that I've referred to often for short historical fiction. My ONLY complaint about Mr. McCutcheon's reference books in general is that he seems to have an ongoing and frustrating aversion to having an index.
Rating: 
Summary: Like a very good lie, there is enough truth to fool you.
Review: It has been several years since I read this, but there are many small problems in this book. Most people will not know the difference, but I will not recommend it to anyone who wants to portray accuracy.
Rating: 
Summary: Misleading
Review: Maybe I misunderstood based on the title but I believed this was a book that was about daily life in the 1800's. Simple. It is, but you also need to have knowledge of much of the literature of that time as well - including having read Dickens and many other Victorian era writers. If you haven't read many of them you might find yourself lost as I did. For those who are avid readers of this this type of literature it is very thorough and I'm sure interesting.
Rating: 
Summary: One volume of a great series
Review: Not just for writers, but historians, hobbyists, and anyone interested in the small details of life in other times. This volume, like the others in the series, includes chapters (with figures and illustrations) on food, clothing, family life, work, education, religion, leisure activities, social and political history, etc. Great for browsing, great for research. Recommended.
Rating:
Summary: A must have resource.
Review: This book is an essential work, not only for the writers, students, and historians, as the subtitle states, but also for genealogists. Reading this book will give the genealogical researcher an insight in the the life of our ancestors in the 19th century. Tons of great and fascinating info. The only reason for withholding the 5th rating star, is that illustrations not only would add great value to the work, but they are truly need. Mr. Varhola does his best to give a word picture of the items in the book, but the reader would greatly benefit from pictures, drawings, etc.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent source for material.
Review: This book is important for people that truly want to understand common slang and language used during the 1800's. It defines many facets of life be it transportation, romance, daily living, food, drink and many more subjects. This book is a tremendous asset for reenactors looking to improve their impression verbally instead of just visually.
Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT Reference Tool...Superbly Written and Detailed.
Review: This reference guide is a MUST HAVE for all writers of historical fiction. Even fans of the genre will find the contents fascinating. Here is a sampling from the Table Of Contents...a simple summation here will not do this book true justice:Slang and Everyday Speech: even includes swear words, euphemisms and Appalachian Speech -- and examples on how to use them! Driving Customs: different modes of transportation (including wagons, carriages, stage coaches, canals, etc.) Home Life: types of houses, furniture, lighting and housekeeping methods, etc. Clothing and Fashion -- including a chronology of hairstyles (what FUN it was reading this!) Careers and Occupations: including "street vendor cries" and child labor Money and Currency: different currencies and their values (wish they had pictures!) Confederate Money, foreign currency and exchange Health and Medicine: aside from the usual common illnesses and their treatments also included are quack remedies, medicines, premature burial Common foods, alcoholic beverages, how they preserved foods and what it was like to hang out in a saloon Different Pastimes, Games, sports and social customs, Dating and marriage customs, Slave customs and everyday life, including music and dialect. There is even a sidebar on the occupations of free blacks. I found it interesting that there were also Negro slave owners during this period -- see page 220! The Civil War: practices, customs, weaponry, (very inclusive) The Wild West: cowboys and their customs, regional slang, food and drink Criminal activity, slang and common punishments All in all everything you need to create a "filled to the brim" first draft is here. Use of this book will certainly cure any form of writer's block. My favorite section is the Chronology of Events towards the back of the book (begins on page 283 of the hardcover edition). Here you will find very valuable timetables...from 1800-1900. Also included in this section is a Chronology of books, novels and magazines that were published during this time period; as well as inventions, songs and other noted innovations. The author then concludes the book with a resource guide to other references helpful to the historical writer. Absolutely superb...Enjoy
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