Forgotten elegance

"History students and Victorian enthusiasts looking for comprehensive information on the dining practices of Victorian America will find this book a vital resource. Revealing the history of 19th-century dining, clothing, and etiquette, the volume includes sample menus and explicit instructions on how to re-create a Victorian dinner, tea, breakfast, or lunch in the 21st century. The different dining styles and how they evolved into rituals of the era are explained, and then a formal dinner is examined course by course. In addition, the Schollanders present the history and uses of various wines…