19th-Century Domestic Advice Manuals

Advice manuals – the self-help books of the 19th century – provide a rich source of information about domestic and social life in the era.

The Caroline Simpson Library holds many fascinating examples of 19th-century domestic advice manuals. Most of these were published in the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia. A number of the titles discussed are now rare; and in some cases are the only known copy in a public collection. These publications cover subjects such as household management, domestic service, decorating and etiquette, and offer great insight into social and material histories of the home.