A Cultural History of the Home in the Age of Empire

The home became more powerful in the Western world during the 19th century due to imperial expansion, industrialisation, and commercialization, leading to the establishment of Western European homes in new terrains and the construction of a shared cultural idea of home as a refuge from a chaotic and noisy industrialised world. Gender was an essential part of this idea, with a greater emphasis on the male breadwinner and the need for women to maintain the domestic material fabric and emotional environment. However, there were differences in how these ideas were realised and practiced, with home experienced differently according to class and race and different forms of identity and levels of socio-economic resource shaping home-making practices.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 16 May 2024
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

During the 19th century, the home emerged as a significant cultural construct and a set of lived practices in the Western world, experiencing unprecedented growth and transformation. This period witnessed extensive imperial expansion, industrialization, and commercialization, reshaping both the location and manner in which homes were established. Scientific advancements and mass production further altered the physical nature of homes, introducing domestic technologies and a wide range of new goods. This volume delves into the diverse ways in which homes and homemaking were envisioned and practiced across the globe during the 19th century. The acquisition of empires not only led to the establishment of Western European homes in new territories but also reinforced the perception of Europeans as guardians of superior cultures, patriarchal relationships, and living practices. During this time, a powerful shared cultural idea of home emerged, championed by the growing urban middle class, which viewed home as a refuge from the chaotic and noisy industrialized world. Gender played a crucial role in this concept, with both masculine and feminine virtues expected to underpin the ideal home. The male breadwinner was emphasized, while women were tasked with maintaining the domestic material fabric and emotional environment. While these ideas were widely shared and propagated in print culture across Western Europe and North America, there were significant variations in their realization and practice. Home was experienced differently based on class and race, with different forms of identity and levels of socio-economic resources shaping diverse home-making practices. While highlighting the cultural significance of home, this book also reveals the diverse ways in which homes were lived during the 19th century.

Weight: 524g
Dimension: 244 x 169 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350412262