One may seem to travel back in time when visiting historical recreations at places like Plimouth Plantation and Colonial Williamsburg, but author, Lois Miner Huey contends that these places don't do justice to the smells, the bugs, and the health and sanitary conditions of the 1700s. She invites the reader to travel back in a time machine and spells it all out in glorious, gory detail.
This is definitely not one for the faint of heart. Indeed, most of the entries elicit reactions such as, Ick! Yuck! and Eew! featured on the cover even without the insertion of the blood red-colored interjections at regular intervals. They were an unnecessary distraction from what is a riveting account of just how malodorous and dangerous the past was.
Pages are crammed with period paintings, photographs and text boxes, most crawling with insects superimposed on top and lending to feeling itchy even before reading the text. Even though the tone is light, the descriptions are graphic and the precarious nature of health in the eighteenth century really hits home.
This would be a useful addition to the collection for researchers, history buffs or browsers. An Author's Note, glossary, and suggestions for places to visit conclude the volume.
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