Name: If Walls Could Talk
ISBN: 9780571259540

Lucy Worsley

Originally published: London: Faber & Faber, 2011.

An Intimate History of the Home

If Walls Could Talk

Why did the flushing toilet take two centuries to catch on? Why did medieval people sleep sitting up? When were the two “dirty centuries”? Why, for centuries, did rich people fear fruit? In her brilliantly and creatively researched book, Lucy Worsley takes us through the bedroom, bathroom, living room, and kitchen, covering the history of each room and exploring 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 masturbating, getting dressed to getting married-providing a compelling account of how the four rooms of the home have evolved from medieval times to today, charting revolutionary changes in society.

Lacy W

This was one of those random thrift store pick ups that you honestly wouldn’t even think to look at. I think my mom ended up finding this for me. She knows I am interested in all things United Kingdom and was sure I would like this book. It honestly sounded right up my alley. 

This was definitely an insightful book. I learned quite a bit about the development of the different rooms of the home, although they were mostly about British homes. American homes were mentioned slightly. I have no idea if British homes are different than American homes.

One of the things I enjoyed about this book was the pictures mingled amongst the pages. It was interesting to see just what some of the rooms looked like. I am a visual person so seeing it helped me to visualize it better. It made me really want to visit the United Kingdom and all the old castles.

The negative of this book was how repetitive it got to be after a while. A lot of the topics overlapped each other so I was often reading the same thing and getting a lot of the same information. It did get old after a while.

Overall, this was an enjoyable book despite the reptiviness. If you are a huge history buff and are interested in old castles and the histories of them like I am, then adding this to your collection would be worth it.

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 - and more - are answered in this juicy, truly intimate history of the home.Through the bedroom, bathroom, living room and kitchen, Lucy Worsley explores 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.

I have to say Lucy Worsley is one of my favorite historians and I love watching her documentaries. This was the first book by her that I read and I will be reading more. I am really glad that I picked it up and I'm going to be reading more very soon. I liked that it was very easy to read/listen to and it didn't read like a textbook. I find a lot of history books read like textbooks but I am noticing a lot more getting away from that. 

PS I am going to rewatch some of my favorite Lucy Worsley now

Elizabeth Neill

✴✴✴✴½

I have to say Lucy Worsley is one of my favorite historians and I love watching her documentaries. This was the first book by her that I read and I will be reading more. I am really glad that I picked it up and I'm going to be reading more very soon. I liked that it was very easy to read/listen to and it didn't read like a textbook. I find a lot of history books read like textbooks but I am noticing a lot more getting away from that. 

PS I am going to rewatch some of my favorite Lucy Worsley now

If Walls Could Talk An Intimate History of the Home

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