Clean

A History of Personal Hygiene and Purity

Virginia Smith (Freelance historian)

$58.95

Paperback

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English

Oxford University Press
24 October 2008

Social & cultural history; Society & Social Sciences; Hygiene; History of medicine

Why do we still have nits? What exactly are 'purity rules'? And why have baths scarcely changed in 200 years? The long history of personal hygiene and purity is a fascinating subject that reveals how closely we are linked to our deeper past. In this pioneering book, Virginia Smith covers the global history of human body-care from the Neolithic to the present, using first-hand accounts and sources. From pre-historic grooming rituals to New Age medicine, from ascetics to cosmetics, Smith looks at how different cultures have interpreted and striven for personal cleanliness and shows how, throughout history, this striving for purity has brought great social benefits as well as great tragedies. It is probably safe to say that no-one who reads this book will look at his or her body (or bathroom) in quite the same way again.

By: Virginia Smith (Freelance historian)
Imprint: Oxford University Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 196mm, Width: 129mm, Spine: 26mm
Weight: 471g
ISBN: 9780199532087
ISBN 10: 0199532087
Pages: 480
Publication Date: 24 October 2008
Audience: General/trade , Adult education , ELT Advanced , Tertiary & Higher Education
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

1: Bio-Physicality 2: The Cosmetic Toilette 3: Greek Hygiene 4: Roman Baths 5: Asceticism 6: Medieval Morals 7: Protestant Regimens 8: Civil Cleanliness 9: Health Crusaders 10: The Body Beautiful Select Bibliography Index

Reviews for Clean: A History of Personal Hygiene and Purity

This is a fascinating account of cleanliness, from BC to MRSA. BBC History Magazine. This is a fascinating cornucopia of cleanliness. P. D. Smith. The Guardian. Smith's book, filled with offbeat erudition, is a fascinating journey through centuries. Sunday Times.