Thursday’s Book Review
Tidings From the 18th Century: Colonial American How-To and Living History
by Beth Gilgun
Book Cover ~ © 1993 Scurlock Publishing
Rating
5 stars = Shiny!
Description
Written as a series of letters to a companion, this book discusses life in the 18th century in splendid detail. It touches on every subject necessary to the re-enactor, including sewing and keeping house.
Liked
This book is a treasure trove of knowledge for the historical costumer and re-enactor. If you’re neither, you’ll still find this book fascinating, for it delves into history and paints an intriguing portrait of life in the 18th century.
Of highest import are the chapters on sewing and clothing, and it was for these that I purchased the book. Clothing in the 1700s was sewn entirely by hand, since the sewing machine was a century away from being invented. The author writes as if to a dear friend, and one, it seems, who is in desperate need of instruction in everyday life. She presents everything in a neat and orderly fashion, from hand sewing techniques and embroidery to antique sewing tools and basic garments of the period.
Embroidery Pattern ~ © 1993 Scurlock Publishing
Of special significance is the section on antique textiles. It gives examples of what proper fabrics of the 18th century look like: what to look for and what to avoid. Thanks to this tidy little section, there will be no more guessing as to whether your fabric is authentic, or “in the spirit of”, or completely wrong altogether!
Antique Style Fabric ~ © 1993 Scurlock Publishing
The chapters on clothing include men’s and children’s clothing, which are hard to find elsewhere. It gives an overview of the century’s fashion evolution, and provides pattern diagrams and directions for all the basic garments, such as stays and jumps, shifts, petticoats, jackets, caps, and cloaks. For men, it covers shirts, breeches, waistcoats, and great coats. For children, it gives instructions for making shifts, caps, frocks, gowns, dresses, breeches, and waistcoats. Finally, it gives tips for accessorizing with hats, calashes, shoes, pocketbooks, and jewelry.
Pattern for Short Gown ~ © 1993 Scurlock Publishing
If you really want to immerse yourself in the 18th century experience, you’ll find the last three chapters useful. They cover a range of topics, including kitchenware, bedding, basket weaving, cooking and baking, how to make beer, soap, and candles, how to dye fabric, and how to entertain adults and children without electricity.
Each chapter is illustrated with a combination of photographs, sketches, and original drawings. The book provides a comprehensive list of references and sources for each chapter, making it easy for you to reproduce the items described within.
Disliked
The format of letter-writing and the extremely small text takes some getting used to, but it isn’t a true bother. My only real complaint is that all of the photographs and illustrations are black & white. Especially with the fabrics, it would have been nice to see some color. Still, this is easily overlooked by the quality of the writing and vast content.
Conclusion
If you’re even remotely interested in Colonial America, life in the 18th century, or historic costuming—you’ll want to invest in this book. It covers virtually everything you’ll need to know to re-enact or sew authentic garments of the period.
I rate this book with five out of five stars and wholly recommend it.
Buy Now: Tidings from the Eighteenth Century
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Have you read this book? What did you think of the instructions given for sewing and embroidery? Are the chapters on life in the 18th century useful? Does the abundance of content outweigh the fact that the illustrations are all black & white?
