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annarella's review against another edition
5.0
An essay that is entertaining, well written and witty.
It is one of the most entertaining history book I read in a long time.
Recommended.
It is one of the most entertaining history book I read in a long time.
Recommended.
archivesgeek's review against another edition
5.0
What a fascinating read! I highly recommend this book to any lover of history. Through meticulous research, Hughes tells the stories of Victorian era historical figures through the lens of their bodies. As an archivist and a historian, I so rarely think about the role a person's body played in historical events. Hughes's book is a reminder to us all that our physical self influences the events that play out around us. As she writes early in the book "...the body, no matter how we might like to imagine it as a safe haven from the messy contingency of history, is deeply implicated in it."
soavezefiretto's review against another edition
3.0
It started out very promising with the case of Lady Flora and all the wonderful royal intrigue, but then started to peter out. The premise about the bodies and body parts doesn't really hold for all the rest of the stories. Especially "Sweet Fanny Adams" was disappointing, as it was just a recounting of the trial, giving only the most superficial account, if any, of what it could have been like to inhabit the body of a small girl in Victorian times. Plus, the Jane Austen connections were completely superficial and absurd. Still, it was entertaining enough, so recommended if you are somewhat of a Victorian fiend and like gossip. Just don't expect it to be very juicy.
louanges's review against another edition
Not sure what to make of this one. The book has a great concept, and it’s interesting and evocatively written, but the chapters don’t really tie together or bring anything new to the table. The Fanny Adams chapter was particularly tangential, focusing on the murder and trial rather than providing an arguably more relevant exploration of Adams’ legacy and the development of the cult of the child. The whole thing could have been salvaged with a robust conclusion to tie everything together but instead it left off abruptly with an anecdote about tinned meat.
I’m not sure it’s the ground-breaking eye-opener advertised but it was still pretty readable, and probably a good introduction for anyone looking to explore Victorian social history.
I’m not sure it’s the ground-breaking eye-opener advertised but it was still pretty readable, and probably a good introduction for anyone looking to explore Victorian social history.
4tticb's review against another edition
1.0
In addition to being quite boring, it felt very disrespectful, ableist, and sexist rather than tongue-in-cheek.
annarella's review against another edition
5.0
An essay that is entertaining, well written and witty.
It is one of the most entertaining history book I read in a long time.
Recommended.
It is one of the most entertaining history book I read in a long time.
Recommended.
frauleinbunny's review against another edition
dark
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
Partly a tad too flippant and tongue in cheek - but full of information.
alexeveleth's review against another edition
3.0
I really, really wanted to give this five stars. I love the time period, I've studied it for a while and I was really looking forward to an new examination of the Victorian Era.
Hughes does a good job of writing in a more conversational style, but unfortunately she conflates many of her opinions with fact. I think it's her style of writing that just seems to make her opinions seem like fact. It rally takes away from the subject, especially in the last story about Fanny Adams.
It's still an interesting read with five good stories, but it just wasn't what I hoped it would be.
Hughes does a good job of writing in a more conversational style, but unfortunately she conflates many of her opinions with fact. I think it's her style of writing that just seems to make her opinions seem like fact. It rally takes away from the subject, especially in the last story about Fanny Adams.
It's still an interesting read with five good stories, but it just wasn't what I hoped it would be.