If Walls Could Talk

Why did the flushing toilet take two centuries to catch on? Why did medieval people sleep sitting up? When were the two dirty centuries? Why did gas lighting cause Victorian ladies to faint? Why, for centuries, did rich people fear fruit? In her brilliantly and creatively researched book, Lucy Worsley takes us through the bedroom, bathroom, living room, and kitchen. She covers the history of each room and explores what people actually did in bed, in the bath, at the table, and at the stove--from sauce stirring to breastfeeding, teeth cleaning to masturbation, getting dressed to getting married--providing a compelling account of how the four rooms of the home have evolved from medieval times to today.

LUCY WORSLEY is an historian, author, curator and television presenter. Lucy read Ancient and Modern History at New College, Oxford and worked for English Heritage before becoming Chief Curator of Historic Royal Palaces, based at Hampton Court. She also presents history programmes for the BBC including Empire of the Tsars: Romanov Russia with Lucy Worsley and Lucy Worsley's Reins of Power: The Art of Horse Dancing. Her bestselling books include A Very British Murder: The Curious Story of how Crime was Turned into Art; If Walls Could Talk: An Intimate History of the Home; Courtiers: The Secret History of the Georgian Court; and Cavalier: The Story of a 17th Century Playboy. She lives in London, England.