The Secret Life of Victorian Houses

The Secret Life of Victorian Houses traces the fascinating connections between the eras domestic tastes and its social history. The Victorians were the first Americans to enjoy a bounty of affordable, mass-produced goods. But the Industrial Revolution, which supplied those comforts, was hardly sedate. The authors explore how the outpouring of styles, from Greek Revival columns to Gothic crenelations, from Turkish carpets to Eastlake tables, reflected the Victorians' new concepts of morality, culture, and manners. Tim Field's photographs of authentic period houses distill the essence of Victorian styles -- the delicacy of a Marie Antoinette parlor, the bombastic self-confidence of a Renaissance Revival dining room, the romanticism of an Italianate country retreat. His images masterfully evoke the human impulses behind a wonderful architectural legacy. The Secret Life of Victorian Houses includes the addresses for notable Victorian house museums. A useful source guide also lists purveyors of finished materials such as wallpaper, tile, millwork, lighting, and more.