'literally true that no Household interest has been neglected', July 24, 2014

This review is from: Harmsworth's Household Encyclopedia. 6 volume set (Hardcover)
A wonderful compendium for the 21st century reader: both from a practical point of view - these volumes will tell you EVERYTHING you could ever need for the home: (pattern for a bathing dress; playing the banjo; dealing with arsenic poisoning; constructing a camp bed...I'm just thumbing through the first volume) but also from an historic point of view - the dated information is often quite entertaining.
I loved the article on 'The Art of Shopping', which encourages the shopper to know what they want: 'If you wander about with no fixed intention and ask for some material to make underclothes, and with pride, or with shame, or a giggle, protest that you are not sure of the difference between linen-lawn and nainsook, you place yourself at a disadvantage'. Also to teach the young how to spend their money wisely in the manner of 'such prodigies as one Alfred, aged eight, of my intimate acquaintance, who, when given a pound to spend as he liked, took 12 hours to decide, and then decided he would like a War Bond.'
With lead-in articles by such important persons as Mrs Belloc Lowndes, and every page featuring b/w photos or diagrams, this is a WONDERFUL collection. ( )