Odd books.
Oct. 29th, 2007 12:41 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sister_luckThis post can go several ways. It's up to you. Read on and I'll explain.
On Saturday I had a look at my collection of vintage English language textbooks. One of my favourites is called English Daily Life written by a German teacher called Dr. R. Kron.
It's an absolute gem - there is no publishing date, but it mentions several events of 1899 and was definitely published before January 1st, 1901, because that's "when we shall enter upon the 19th century". (Oh, and Victoria is the Queen, so my best guess is that it was published in 1900.)
It seems to be aimed at höhere Töchter, i.e. the daughters of well-to-do German families because it talks at length about making "Calls" and leaving cards which is very fascinating and devotes a whole chapter to Needlework, &c. You can also find long descriptions of the wardrobe you'd expect a well-bred English girl to have. Funnily, this is written in the first person and thus a bit gender-bending as the author of this book was definitely male. For most of the book he manages to take up the persona of Henrietta White from a "very old family" which "can be traced back to the time of Queen Elizabeth". She's got six siblings and there are "seven servants belonging to our household". She's a modest girl who doesn't like high heels: "they're so uncomfortable" and who isn't "fond of wearing rings, brooches, ear-rings (not in vogue in England), and other jewelry". We are also informed that "All better-class English families have a cook; the ladies of the family never interfere with the cooking."
So, I can give you lots more from this book - things you've always wanted to know about English Daily Life as seen through the eyes of a German teacher and presented to young German ladies of a certain background or useful phrases for conversation about the weather or In a Shop or At table or how to politely decline when being asked for a dance: "Very sorry indeed, I have not one left; my card is filled as you see."
Or you can wander to your bookshelf and give us some quotes from the weirdest non-fiction book you own.
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salon_virtuel. Please leave all comments there.
On Saturday I had a look at my collection of vintage English language textbooks. One of my favourites is called English Daily Life written by a German teacher called Dr. R. Kron.
It's an absolute gem - there is no publishing date, but it mentions several events of 1899 and was definitely published before January 1st, 1901, because that's "when we shall enter upon the 19th century". (Oh, and Victoria is the Queen, so my best guess is that it was published in 1900.)
It seems to be aimed at höhere Töchter, i.e. the daughters of well-to-do German families because it talks at length about making "Calls" and leaving cards which is very fascinating and devotes a whole chapter to Needlework, &c. You can also find long descriptions of the wardrobe you'd expect a well-bred English girl to have. Funnily, this is written in the first person and thus a bit gender-bending as the author of this book was definitely male. For most of the book he manages to take up the persona of Henrietta White from a "very old family" which "can be traced back to the time of Queen Elizabeth". She's got six siblings and there are "seven servants belonging to our household". She's a modest girl who doesn't like high heels: "they're so uncomfortable" and who isn't "fond of wearing rings, brooches, ear-rings (not in vogue in England), and other jewelry". We are also informed that "All better-class English families have a cook; the ladies of the family never interfere with the cooking."
So, I can give you lots more from this book - things you've always wanted to know about English Daily Life as seen through the eyes of a German teacher and presented to young German ladies of a certain background or useful phrases for conversation about the weather or In a Shop or At table or how to politely decline when being asked for a dance: "Very sorry indeed, I have not one left; my card is filled as you see."
Or you can wander to your bookshelf and give us some quotes from the weirdest non-fiction book you own.
cross-posted to
salon_virtuel. Please leave all comments there.
