Reviewed by annieb123 on
Old-Time Country Wisdom and Lore for Hearth and Home is a volume in a series of republished and collated Old Farmer's Almanac type tips and folklore from the 1970s. Originally released in the 70's, this re-release from Quarto on their Voyageur Press imprint 12th Oct 2021 is 176 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats.
This is a wide-ranging collection of "Old Farmer's Almanac" type of wisdom and trivia. The tips and tricks are very roughly arranged thematically: hearth and home (cleaning and general info) and the country table (food prep & handling).
There are some hair-raisingly scary "tips" and observations included here and they are blended willy-nilly with old wives & farmers tales without regard to the veracity of any of the claims. In fact, the publisher states quite clearly in the disclaimer that "Any recipes or “health cures” are intended as a historical reference only. They are NOT recommended by the editors or publisher of this book. They have been compiled as a historical narrative for historical purposes only. The publisher assumes no responsibility whatsoever for any injury or damage resulting from reader’s use of any of the material or information contained in this book".
The graphics are simple with old fashioned monochrome illustrations and line drawings throughout. This would be a good selection for the smallholder's winter home library reading, allotments, fans of old farmer's almanac type publications, and similar. I would go so far as to suggest its usefulness for historical research and background context for authors, historical re-enactors, etc. This is *not* a book to be followed or used as a reference to any degree.
Three and a half stars. It's of limited practical use, but will be enjoyed by people who remember the old almanacs fondly.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Reading updates
- Started reading
- 1 November, 2021: Finished reading
- 1 November, 2021: Reviewed