Life in Miniature: A History of Dolls’ Houses

Nicola Lisle • £25
pen-and-sword.co.uk

Popular in Britain since the late 17th century, dolls’ houses are tiny slices of social history that give us a fascinating glimpse into domestic life over the last 300 years.

In this beautifully-illustrated book, Discover Your Ancestors writer Nicola Lisle explores the origins and history of dolls’ houses and their furnishings, from the earliest known dolls’ house in sixteenth century Bavaria to the present, and looks at how they reflect the architecture, fashions, social attitudes, innovations and craftsmanship of their day. She discusses the changing role of dolls’ houses and highlights significant events and people to give historical context. She also takes a look at some of the leading dolls’ house manufacturers, such as Silber & Fleming and Lines Brothers Ltd (later Triang).

The book includes numerous examples of interesting dolls’ houses, the stories behind them and where to see them. This includes famous models such as Queen Mary’s spectacular 1920s dolls’ house at Windsor Castle and the 18th-century baby house at Kew Palace.

There is also a chapter on model towns and villages, which became popular in the 20th century and also give us a window on the past by replicating real places or capturing scenes typical of a bygone era, as well as advice for dolls’ house collectors, a detailed directory of places to visit and recommended further reading.

One of the most comprehensive guides available on the subject published in recent years, this book offers unique insights into the world of dolls’ houses and is a must for anyone with an interest in the history and appeal of these miniature treasures.

The Hats that Made Britain

David Long • £20
thehistorypress.co.uk

Many of the world’s most famous hats have their origins in Britain; in the Middle Ages there were civil and religious laws requiring hats to be worn and in Victorian Britain a person would no more leave home without a hat than a pair of trousers. It is no surprise that London’s oldest surviving shop, Lock and Co., is a hatter. From practical everyday caps and bonnets to military headwear, top hats, and even the coronation crown, hats of all sorts have passed through its doors and continue to do so after more than 300 years. In this fascinating new book David Long reveals how much of Britain’s social history can be understood through its headwear, and in exploring the ways in which a hat speaks volumes about its wearer’s rank and status he tells the stories of the people beneath some of the most famous hats of history.

Revolutionary Ireland, 1916-2016: Historical Facts & Social Transformations Re-assessed

Constanza del Río & José Carregal (eds.) • £39.99
eerpublishing.com

This volume offers entirely new work which highlights the historical moments at which it would be possible to talk about a political or social revolution in Ireland, while also considering that in the years when Ireland became ‘the Celtic Tiger’, certain social involutions took place.

The book discusses the idea of revolution in Ireland from a multi- and inter-disciplinary perspective. It covers, on the one hand, the political revolution, mainly the Easter Rising 1916, and on the other the social transformations that the country underwent following the claims for civil rights and the sexual revolution of the late 1960s both in the USA and Europe.

A History of British Baking

Emma Kay • £25.00
pen-and-sword.co.uk

The British have been baking for centuries. Here, for the first time, is a comprehensive account of how our relationship with this much-loved art has changed, evolved and progressed over time.

Renowned food historian and author Emma Kay skilfully combines the related histories of Britain’s economy, innovation, technology, health, cultural and social trends with the personal stories of many of the individuals involved with the whole process: the early pioneers, the recipe writers, the cooks, the entrepreneurs. The result is a deliciously fascinating read, one that will prove to be juicer than the juiciest of juicy baked goods.