During the 1800s, dance and etiquette manuals provided ordinary men and women with the keys to becoming gentlemen and ladies--and thus advancing in society. Why dance? To the insecure and status-oriented upper middle class, the ballroom embodied the perfect setting in which to demonstrate one's fitness for membership in genteel society. From the Ballroom to Hell collects over 100 little-known excerpts from dance, etiquette, beauty, and fashion manuals from the nineteenth century. Included are instructions for performing various dances, as well as musical scores, costume patterns, and the proper way to hold one's posture, fork, gloves, and fan. While of particular interest to dancers, dance historians, and choreographers, anyone fascinated by the ways and mores of the period will find From the Ballroom to Hell an endearing and informative glimpse of America's past.

The antiquarian's reference to old books features thousands of listings, including hundreds of new titles, a new Internet buying guide, a complete glossary of book-collecting terms, research resources, information on dealers, and advice on buying, selling, and maintaining fragile acquisitions. Original.

The most popular cookbook of the 19th century, Directions for Cookery passed through 60 editions from 1837 to 1870. Carefully written, concise recipes for beef-steak pudding, Moravian sugar cake, cat-fish soup, election cake, oyster pie, pepper pot, lobster catchup, many more. The present volume contains the complete first edition (1837) plus later addenda and additional recipes by Miss Leslie.