The Homecraft Book: The 1940's domestic guide

by Ann Hathaway, Thaddeus Lovecraft (Introduction)

First published in 1945, this book is a compendium of advice across a myriad of subjects for the post-war woman, wife and mother. By times hilarious, by times disconcerting but always entertaining, it offers bite-sized ampoules of advice on the subjects of house, health, beauty and dress.

Press for The Homecraft Book

The
“a handbook for saving the planet”
“you’ll have the price of the book paid back in no time”
“a right good read”

Woman’s Way
“Vintage advice”

The Irish Times Online Book Reviews
“Think life was easier in 1945? … discover a world of congested scalps, swollen knuckles and furred kettles”

Today with Sean O’Rourke, RTE Radio 1
“Fascinating and Fun”
“I love this woman’s approach”
“I was really impressed…the more I read, the more I enjoyed it.”
“Some of the ideas really did work.”
“She holds her own”
“simple but ingenious”
“entertaining and great fun to try them out”

Genres: Nonfiction

153 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 29, 2015

Reviews

[HattieB · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting book that shows while a lot of things have changed, in other ways they haven't changed at all.

[Brian Clegg · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I write this review, Christmas is approaching and many of us are looking for good presents for those difficult-to-buy-for people. I have done my bit for this cause with the science quiz book How Many Moons Does the Earth Have (traditional shameless plug), but even I, through gritted teeth, have to admit that not everyone would greet a science book in their stocking with a cheery smile. And if that's the case, you are recommended to get hold of The Homecraft Book by Ann Hathaway.

In case there's a suspicion that the Hollywood actress is following her colleague Ms Paltrow into telling us how to run our lives, this was the pseudonym of an Irish writer of home tips. Written at the end of the Second World War, the book has been edited by the author's grandson, who has the even more unlikely pseudonym of Thaddeus Lovecraft.

The reader knows that there is a fun trip ahead when seeing the 'mostly non-lethal advice' comment on the cover, reinforced by being informed that we won't need to have a maid (or a Hoover). Some sections are marvellous read aloud, preferably in a Joyce Grenfell voice, e.g. 'use two dusters at the same time - one in each hand when dusting your rooms. You'll find you can do your work much more quickly'. (And don't forget to 'paint your cork tablemat with enamel, cheerful and easy to keep clean.')

Realistically, this isn't the kind of book you are likely to sit and read from end to end as it does contain a lot of lists for advice, for instance on mending everything from the household bucket (using putty) to getting rid of cracks in china (the secret is an application of the anything but harmless quicklime). But it is a great title to dip into and to get a feel for a very different world from our disposable society. Back then, make do and mend was essential - an approach that arguably we can learn a lot from.

Appealing both to older readers for nostalgia reasons and younger trendy folk for its ironic appeal, I expect the book to do very nicely for Christmas. And you will be pleased to know that there is even a section on making the most of your Christmas festivities.

[Carrie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got halfway through, but this isn’t really that helpful of a home maintenance manual. Many of the items mentioned are no longer in regular use. I have no idea where I would get my hands on bluing, for example. Also not helpful: this is written like a collection of ideas that haven’t been checked for truthfulness or even authoritatively rewritten cohesively. A newspaper write-in column was just mined for material. You’ll find different answers to the same question scattered through the book. The introduction is hilarious, but the grandson who rereleased his grandma’s book doesn’t seem to have done anything new except make fun of the dangerous chemicals people cleaned with in the 40s in the introduction.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting read for anyone interested in the history of home making. It’s also a picture into a society that threw very little away. Things that broke were mended and things that wore out were used to make something else. You can see the effects of a decade long depression followed by a world war. There was no guarantee you could find or afford anything new, so you better take care of what you had.

My only complaint was there were a lot of transcription errors in the text.

[Willow Rankin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book - or pamphlet is a recreation of tips from the 1940s on how to look after the home. Whilst some of the tips are inevitably out of date and feature chemicals which can no longer be purchased; some of the tips are still applicable to today.
This feels like a study in social history - and how much work was to be done by the average housewife.
Overall, a great read and definitely worth keeping on the bookshelves.

[MARSHA · Rating 5 out of 5]

You don't have to do everything but...

I like to learn how things used to be done however the tips found in this book are worth noting. I found a few tips that I actually do instinctively, including categorizing my chores. I also made note of 2 recipes I am going to try.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun book to read.😊😊😊

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful

How much homemaking has changed in 75 years. As the child of children of WWII it was fascinating to read some of the techniques people used to get by.

[Jill LaSalle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun read

Fun book. I love reading vintage homemaking, fashion, and beauty books. Some of these ideas would be fun to try out, like honey and rosewater for hands.