Victorian Farm: Christmas Edition

Period Farms

by Alex Langlands, Ruth Goodman

No electricity, no gas, no flushing toilet—and no tractor! Could you survive a year on a Victorian farm? In this fascinating time-traveling experiment Lion Television, with the BBC, follow a team of historians who will spend a year recreating farm life in 1885. Accompanying the series, this book follows the team as they try to run a farm using only materials and resources that would have been available to them in the Victorian era. This was a crucial period in the history of Britain—rapid industrialization had radically changed life in the cites but rural communities used a mixture of centuries-old and pioneering modern practices. Packed with informative text and photographs from the farm year, this book reveals exactly what the Victorians, ate, wore, how they managed their animals, farmed the land, and organized their lives. In-depth features describe revolutionary advances in more detail, including new inventions, new breeding methods, and advances in agricultural science. Practical projects allow you to join the historians in rediscovering Victorian crafts, cooking, and home care. Providing a real insight into life on a Victorian farm, this series is also a fascinating reminder of how history comes full circle. The organic diet of 1885, use of natural products for cleaning and healthcare, and interests in crafts and gardening are of increasing relevance today as we look for a more responsible way of living more than 120 years later.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Victorian, Christmas, Experimental Archaeology

304 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Alex Langlands is a British archaeologist and historian, also known for his work as a presenter of the educational documentary series on British television.

Reviews

[Mishu Ciobanu · Rating 5 out of 5]

A real treat and window to the ways & challenges of rural Victorians, I loved every bit of it!

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite portrayals of Victorian life gets a Christmas edition. Very fascinating, educational, and beautiful.

[Bee · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you’ve watched the series, this book won’t tell you much new information. But it’s nicely put together.

[Rebekka Steg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This weeks book for Writer's Wednesday is Victorian Farm by Alex Langlands, Peter Ginn & Ruth Goodman. It's a fascinating account by three historians who lived on a Victorian farm for one year (also filmed by BBC). I really really enjoyed it, but I've always been fascinated by history, and especially farm life 100-150 years ago, so this was right up my alley.

The book goes through everything, from life with the animals, to harvesting, gardening, cooking, building, clothes, shoes, laundry, etc.. It brought up so many issues, which I had never even considered, yet found incredibly interesting to read about. The three authors lived on a farm, with only the same tools and knowledge available to them, as would have been available to a mid-sized farm during the Victorian age in England, wearing Victorian style clothes, and working a farm with everything that includes.

The book is full of colourful photographies, as well as drawings of original tools and equipment, recipes and fascinating knowledge. I greatly recommend it to anyone who has any kind of interest in history, farming, and how things used to be done.

[Brandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off I want to say that the thickness of the paper was a surprise and I kept on thinking that I had a page or two extra every time I turned the page. I am also worried on how they bound the book. when looking at it it looks like small(very small) books are in one book. Since they have pages folded and then clued, yes it was also sewn in too but it just seems like the pages will come off the glue. Not sure if that makes sense but if you see the book you will understand what I am talking about.

Secondly I would like to say that I enjoyed reading the book specially the Christmas part. Since the one I say was the Christmas on a Victorian Farm. There was one that I wish they did put in the sugar plum recipe. Even if it was simple; looked simple on the show, it would have been nice to have seen it in the book.

Over all I enjoyed the book, if your into every day living from a farmer's point of view I think this will help you imagine it.

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent companion to the series, and a good compendium of information for the layperson on all sorts of rural Victorian history and culture.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Can't wait till we move into our new house and I'll try out the recipes and crafts.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the contents of this book are highly interesting, the editing is sadly deficient, and misspellings and ungrammatical writing abound.