Mary Hardy and her World 1773-1809: Volume 1: A working family

Resilient and hardworking, with few social pretensions, the Hardy family of farmers and brewers is described in detail. We meet a series of independent middle-class women, who kept their finances and property separate from their husbands' and surmounted a host of challenges and troubles. Training children in prudence and time-awareness from a very young age helped secure the family from business failure, a fate befalling many in their circle. A talented young son becomes lord of the manor and creator of a beautiful estate still admired today. Hundreds of illustrations, in black and white and full colour, accompany the text. Meticulous sidenotes elaborate on sources; extensive indexes serve as research aids. Part of a four-volume set, this book nonetheless stands on its own. See more