A review by tessisreading2
Unmentionable: The Victorian Lady's Guide to Sex, Marriage, and Manners by Therese Oneill

3.0

Fun, glib overview of the life of a wealthy Victorian lady, probably in America. Oneill's tone is snarky and she's determined to amuse. The research seems good, although the occasional efforts to dart into the realm of the less-than-savory were somewhat frustrating - mentions of racism, slavery, classism, and the perils of the life of the non-rich Victorian woman were sometimes startling, because they're not detailed or particularly contextualized, although it would be hard to have a decent history without them - and if you've read much of anything on Victorian women you probably know most of this stuff already. You're reading this because Oneill makes a fun guide, shrieking "What?!?" at all the right details, not because you desperately want to learn the details of Victorian etiquette.