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Review
'Done with great wit and intelligent determination... Questioning the nature of progress is a sane response in a relentlessly consuming and resource-depleted world.' Felicity Lawrence --The Guardian
'It's a riveting tale of a rather extraordinary journey' --Family History Monthly
'If ever there was an argument for the survival of the printed book, this is it.' --Reforesting Scotland Journal
'It's a riveting tale of a rather extraordinary journey' --Family History Monthly
'If ever there was an argument for the survival of the printed book, this is it.' --Reforesting Scotland Journal
Product Description
Challenged to prove her claim that an 18th-century diet was better than today's, for a full year Fiona J Houston recreated the lifestyle of her 1790s rural Scottish ancestors in a basic one-roomed cottage, cooking from her garden and the wild, often entertaining family and friends, and surviving on her own resources. She learned lost crafts and skills, making nettle string, quill pens and ink as well as cheese and ale, lighting her fire from flints, and dressing in hand-sewn period clothing, with nothing but an old range stove and candles for warmth and light. This beautiful, quirky, illustrated title tells her extraordinary story and is packed with historical anecdotes, folklore, practical gardening info, seasonal menus, recipes, wildlife notes and more. Includes linocuts, photos and historic engravings.
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First Sentence
IN TIME, I learnt how to register the different nuances of grey that denote a cloudy night, a bright night, and the start of dawn. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
IN TIME, I learnt how to register the different nuances of grey that denote a cloudy night, a bright night, and the start of dawn. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
My attention was caught by the cover of this book in the window of a local shop, and I had to buy it! Fiona J. Houston, aka 'The History Woman' took a year out of her writing/working life to step back into the 1790's and live as the wife of a schoolmaster would have lived, growing her own food, making her bannocks and porridge, living with none of the 'essentials' we take for granted in todays 'grab it and run' world. No water on tap, no electricity or central heating and definitely no junk food; rush candles and moonlight, a mattress stuffed with straw, and ink made from oak galls with which to write her diary provided her with her meagre but satisfying lot. And she accomplished the whole in period costume, made by herself!
This is an excellent read for anyone genuinely intrigued by the lives of ordinary folk from the past, containing recipes and receipts for many of the meals she lived on, for authentic writing materials ( quill pen nibs and that lovely ink! ) for wicks for lamps and even a pattern for making a 'sark' ( an undershift ).
There were a couple of times during the year when she 'cheated', but going to a musical recital on a bus in full 18th century dress without batting an eyelid seems almost irrelevant if such an anachronism made the other passengers give a thought to their own 'easy' lives. Nipping home to wash a bedsheet in her washing machine is, perhaps, less forgiveable, but given the circumstances ( it had blown off the washing line onto a molehill ) , I think we'd all take exactly the same action!
Illustrated with delicious woodcuts and sumptuous photographs, this would make a fantastic ( dare I say it? ) Christmas present for any friend into self-sufficiency, domestic history or country crafts. Or just buy it for yourself!
This is an excellent read for anyone genuinely intrigued by the lives of ordinary folk from the past, containing recipes and receipts for many of the meals she lived on, for authentic writing materials ( quill pen nibs and that lovely ink! ) for wicks for lamps and even a pattern for making a 'sark' ( an undershift ).
There were a couple of times during the year when she 'cheated', but going to a musical recital on a bus in full 18th century dress without batting an eyelid seems almost irrelevant if such an anachronism made the other passengers give a thought to their own 'easy' lives. Nipping home to wash a bedsheet in her washing machine is, perhaps, less forgiveable, but given the circumstances ( it had blown off the washing line onto a molehill ) , I think we'd all take exactly the same action!
Illustrated with delicious woodcuts and sumptuous photographs, this would make a fantastic ( dare I say it? ) Christmas present for any friend into self-sufficiency, domestic history or country crafts. Or just buy it for yourself!
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I saw this in my local bookshop, but only had time to glance at it. Nevetheless, I was sufficiently inrtigued to order it, and I am glad I did.Beautifully photographed, Fiona's account of living an authentic 18th century life (she didn't even use matches to light her fire!)is a thought provoking, unputdownable read.It certainly made me think.In comparison with the 18th century ,we now live in a materially obsessed society,and reading her account of just how little we need to live made me reasses my own attitudes. While there is no doubt that, for example, running water, electricity, radio, and even the humble match have added greatly to the comfort and safety of modern man, there are still lessons to be learned from the thrifty way life as lived then. In this present time of the "credit crunch" this is a very worthwhile and relevant read. Do buy it!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
"If ever there was an argument for the survival of the printed book, this is it" (Reforesting Scotland journal summer 2009)
10 April 2009
Format:Hardcover
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Length:
3:46
Mins
"An object of delight... If ever there was an argument for the survival of the printed book, this is it" (Reforesting Scotland journal summer 2009).
"Clear, fluent, evocative" (Kay Dunbar, Ways With Words.)
"Book of the Year" (Peter Clarke, Southern Reporter)
"Clear, fluent, evocative" (Kay Dunbar, Ways With Words.)
"Book of the Year" (Peter Clarke, Southern Reporter)
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Back to Simplicity
This book is in the spirit of a book wriiten some ago by Margaret Leigh..."Spade Among the Rushes" which dealt with living on a lonely croft during w.w. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Kareltje
The reality of 18th century country life
There are not many brave souls who would cheerfully commit a year to living in the Scottish 18th Century, but that's precisely what Fiona Houston did. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Dr. Karen E. McAulay
The reality of cottage living
I spent two or three pleasant afternoons immersed in 18th century Scotland whilst reading `The Cottage Garden Diaries`. Read more
Published 19 months ago by E. Cooper
Worth reading but slightly dissappointing
Based on the strength of the reviews I purchased this book. It is a lovely product, pretty with good quality pages - ideal for a gift. Read more
Published on 12 May 2010 by stola peridot
A superb evocation!
The Garden Cottage Diaries offers a superb evocation of what it was like to live and maintain a small household on a day-to-day, month-by-month, and seasonal basis in eighteenth... Read more
Published on 16 Nov 2009 by Michael Phillips
fabulous
Borrowed the book originally from the local library and wanted it for keeps so bought it. facinating, always good for future reference as it's packed full of interest.
Published on 13 Sep 2009 by Joan Collins
A tantalizing glimpse at ordinary life in the 18th Century
This is a charming book. It's beautifully laid out and the inclusion of diary entries gives a real immediacy to the story.
I really enjoyed the lists and recipes. Read more
I really enjoyed the lists and recipes. Read more
Published on 16 July 2009 by Aoife O. Connor
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