This is a fascinating how-to hair styling manual for women who work at living history sites, actors or reenactors who want to create an accurate look for their chosen time period, or anyone interested in historical styles. The book covers seven periods: the Regency period, the early Victorian (or Romantic) period, the Antebellum period, the Civil War period, the post Civil War period, the late Victorian period, and the end of the Victorian period. Each section includes information on period dress as well as some social and political trivia. Step-by-step directions, augmented by photographs, are provided for a simple hairstyle in each period. Short hair styles are also discussed-yes, short hair styles were intermittently in fashion. Three appendices include: "Making Your Own Ratt," "Short Hair," and "How to Make Rag Curls." A wealth of charming vintage illustrations, a list of required tools, a bibliography and an image index add to the value of this work.