Fall Reading 2013 Ick! Yuck! Eew!

Lois Miner Huey is an archaeologist and researcher into the past. Her book shares with readers some of the lesser known facts about life in early America. As she points out, many of us may have visited historical landmarks and seen the well-kept lawns and re-enactors in their period costume - but none of us have had our senses assaulted with the way things would have smelled or looked back then. In those days people believed that bathing was bad for their health, so they smelled awful (or smelled of perfume and cologne over the odor). Between the privies, chamber pots, animal poop in the streets, and all the other things that modern sanitation prevents - it was an awful stench. Then combine that with the dirt, germs, diseases, even the lack of toothbrushes and you start to get an idea of what the atmosphere was like.

This is a book that will appeal to history buffs as well as to readers who enjoy the strange and gross. Forget being slimed on Nickelodeon, think of having someone in a barbershop pull your tooth with no painkillers or a doctor putting leeches on you to suck out your blood! Now that's gross. The glossary, author's note, and lists of books, websites, and historic sites provide additional information and places to find out more (if you haven't had your fill of bedbugs and puke weed). I would recommend this book to anyone who likes their history "down and dirty." To dig up more facts about the author, visit her website.

I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.