I found a copy of "The Book of Household Management" by Mrs. Beeton for my Kindle - free - as it is pre-copyright. So far it is a pretty interesting read . . .
Preface
I must frankly own, that if I had known, beforehand, that this book would have cost me the labour which it has, I should never have been courageous enough to commence it. What moved me, in the first instance, to attempt a work like this, was the discomfort and suffering which I had seen brought upon men and women by household mismanagement. I have always thought that there is no more fruitful source of family discontent than a housewife's badly-cooked dinners and untidy ways."
Ouch!
I am curious to see what else she has to say. . .