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Elspeth Marr

A Victorian Lady’s Guide to Life

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Details

Imprint: O'Mara Books

Publication date: 22/02/2018

ISBN: 9781782438922

Subject: Non-Fiction

Category: Science - History - Philosophy

Binding: Paperback

Size: 198 x 129 mm

Extent: 192 pages

Illustration: b/w illustrations throughout

Territorial Rights: World (All Languages)

Edition Status: Out of Print

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Summary:

In this delightful and engagingly eccentric treasury of life lessons, redoubtable Victorian Elspeth Marr (1871–1947) reflects on the fundamental topics of life as well as the nuts and bolts of everyday living.

Part journal, part commonplace book, among many gems you will find enlightenment and advice on everything from Dreams to Garlic; Patriotism to Wrinkles.

Written throughout her life but only discovered after her death, by her great-great nephew, Christopher Rush, Elspeth’s (known as Aunt Epp) journal was never intended for publication but her style of writing and the subject matter she covers nonetheless reaches a universal audience. Not afraid to put forth views on the big topics – religion, evolution, and ethical issues – she also tackles the nuts and bolts of living – food, sex and health.

Vital, refreshingly frank and always amusing, A Victorian Lady’s Guide to Life provides a wealth of sound advice.

Reviews:

A glorious mishmash of advice on just about everything . . . Aunt Epp pronounces frankly, fearlessly and often outrageously on every topic

The Times Literary Supplement

Genuinely funny.

Washington Post

A Victorian lady with a sassy style . . . [Aunt Epp's advice is] shockingly frank and filled with amusing anachronism.

The New Yorker

Sales points:

  • A delightful collection of life lessons from a bygone era – many of which still have resonance today

  • Full of wit and erudition

  • Sometimes shockingly frank – always very progressive for her day – with forthright opinions on gender, politics, sex, organized religion and literature

  • From chastity to keeping copper kettles clean, and a myriad of home remedies, this book covers a truly eclectic range of subjects

About the Author:

Elspeth Marr

Elspeth Marr (1871-1947)—also known as Aunt Epp—was the great-great-Aunt of author Christopher Rush, who only knew her for two brief years before her death. She lived in the Kingom of Fife, Scotland, where she wrote copious letters and diaries to an unnamed "young girl" in her life. Those documents, which remained undiscovered for years, form the basis of Aunt Epp's Guide for Life.