'If you can learn to lift your ribs right out of your waist, and to let them expand outwards and inwards when breathing, you will soon develop that "upward buoyant poise" which is the secret of grace and which would bring less drudgery and more joy to the daily dusting, bedmaking, picture straightening, and all the dozens of things which go towards making your home beautiful'.

A classic piece of 1940s publishing from B. T. Batsford (originally published 1949) reissued to inform and delight all readers about the housewife's lot as Britain emerged from the war. Although the war-time emphasis on making do is still paramount, we see glimpses of a new world of 'luxuries' with 'Washing and Ironing with Electricity' and 'Making a Modern Divan Bed'. Advice on every aspect of the housewife's life is given, from household chores to useful hobbies for themselves and wholesome ones for their children. Choose from :

Arranging the menus
Carpet sweeping
Hobbies for housewives (leather work, basketry and pewter modelling)
How to make a pouffe
Physical culture (Irish jig in front of the window in the morning)
Cleaning gloves
Care of the complexion and hair
Hat wardrobe
Repairing and binding carpets
Toys from matchboxes

With dozens of diagrams, patterns and instructions, this book is not only a delightful look at the past but can be used for reference even now: very much the intention of the authors more than 60 years ago.

These 101 suggestions are, by turn, funny, charming and useful, but all are a fantastic insight into a woman's life and aspirations after the watershed of the war.

Books by B. Lille