Julie's Web Journal

Most of these books are still readily available (though some may have to be purchased used), but I'm going to start off with a couple that you probably won't be able to easily find. The first is a book called Private Life of the Queen, by a Member of the Royal Household. It sounds like juicy gossip, but instead is a look behind the scenes at Queen Victoria's various residences. It's an affectionate portrait. One interesting tidbit: the librarian at Buckingham Palace was named Holmes. The other hard-to-find book carries the very Victorian-era title of Queen Victoria: Her Grand Life and Glorious Reign, A Complete Story of the Career of the Marvelous Queen and Empress and a Live of the New King, Edward VII, with a brief History of England. Written in 1901, it was clearly intended to cash in on current events. Still, it's a comprehensive look at a slice of royal life. And my copy had some very cool ephemera in it, including this shoe ad:

The other side of the page is a partial "beauty tips" column. I'll share that another day.

You should be able to find a copy of What Jane Austin Ate and Charles Dickens Knew: From Fox Hunting to Whist - the Facts of Daily Life in 19th-Century England, by Daniel Pool, online, if not at a bookstore. This is a fantastic overview of life in the Victorian era, from games to diseases to wardrobe.

Deadly Doses: A Writer's Guide to Poisons by Serita Deborah Stevens with Anne Klarner is a Writer's Digest book that's been out of print for a while, but you can find it used. The sections on plants and animals (and some of the drugs) would very much apply to this era. It's a handy reference in general.

The next books are specific to America, since that's where I've concentrated my research lately. A book I mentioned in one panel is Hot Time in the Old Town: The Great Heat Wave of 1896 and the Making of Theodore Roosevelt, by Edward P. Kohn. As a companion I suggest Murdering McKinley: The Making of Theodore Roosevelt's America, by Eric Rauchway. For more Gilded Age resources, go to the main journal page and type "What I'm Reading" (without the quotes) in the tag search.

Also check out Gail Carriger's site, where she keeps a huge list of resources. (Also check out her new Retro Rack blog, and please read the manifesto.)

The Victorianist is a lovely blog about the era, with an extensive list of links.

First, two books. Fashioning the Bourgeoise: A History of Clothing in the Nineteenth Century, was originally written in French by Pilippe Perrot and was translated by Richard Bienvenu. It's not only a history of fashion, but also of society and how they influenced each other. Lucy Johnston's Nineteenth-Century Fashion in Detail draws from the collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum. It's difficult to find resources for men, which is one reason I recommend this book. And oh, the details! 

Now some links:

OMG that dress! is a Tumblr blog of fashion pictures. The clothing spans a wide range of eras, but the author links back to the source for each picture, which can help in research. 

New Vintage Lady is by a Stout (her description) woman who is an amazing seamstress. If you're looking to modify your store bought items or patterns, this is a good starting point. 

The Steampunk Workshop is a great site for modders and sewers. They have links to many resources, so I'll leave you with that.

Thanks for stopping by, and feel free to add your favorite resources in the comments.