In the wake of the Industrial Revolution the population swiftly developed a thirst for knowledge about the myriad of new goods & ideas that were becoming available. But before the days of television newspaper advertising & junk mail how did people get to know about everything? Over a million people solved the problem by buying a copy of this book which caused a publishing sensation in Victorian Britain. Because it explained so much about so many different aspects of life it continues to provide a very enjoyable & informative peep into the lifestyle of our forebears. In 2775 entries the enquiring Victorian learns how to tell if food is fresh & when it is in season; how to dance; the difference between local dialects; correcting grammar & spelling; the rules of games & puzzles; hints on etiquette; kitchen & household hints & recipes; cures for scores of ailments including rheumatism & baldness; the origins of Christian names; first aid; employment & rental regulations; keeping fit; dressmaking & embroidery; births marriages & deaths; personal conduct as well as scores of others. We know when & where the Victorians lived. This fascinating book explains much about how they lived.