Jennifer Davies Book order

A profusely illustrated, gracefully written social history of the florist, from its Victorian heyday to present-day Britain.

Published to tie in with a BBC2 series and an Imperial War Museum exhibition, this book takes readers back to the days when Hitler's U-boats patrolled the Atlantic, and imported foods were scarce. For the men, woman and children left behind during World War II, life changed dramatically. People who had never gardened before had to start growing their own fruit and vegetables, housewives had to cope with rationing, and their families had to get used to unfamiliar foods such as spam and nettle soup. The book includes the personal memories of Ruth Mott and Harry Dodson (television's "Victorian" cook and gardener, respectively), as well as tales and anecdotes from many people who remember wartime cookery and "digging for victory".

Beautifully illustrated, Harry Dodson's practical Kitchen Garden will give pleasure to all who have enjoyed BBC tv's trilogy of Victorian Programmes and will be invaluable to anyone who wants to grow fruit and vegetables successufully.

Published to coincide with a BBC2 series starting in October 1991, this is a successor to the author's The Victorian Kitchen Garden and The Victorian Kitchen. It tells the stories behind flowers which Victorians grew and loved, and with the help of retired head gardener Harry Dodson explains how simple and exotic flowers were cultivated and used.

Published alongside the BBC TV series of the same name, this book takes a look "below stairs" to find out what domestic life was really like in Victorian times. The book describes in detail the meals the kitchen staff had to prepare, and includes a section on preserving and a list of recipes.