Brisk, capable, humorous, highly opinionated, and frequently ironic, opens a fascinating window on the day-to-day life of the British in India in the late nineteenth century. Steel and Gardiner's mission to uphold Victorian standards in Indian kitchens has illuminating parallels with the running of the British Empire, and their domestic guide reveals as much about British attitudes to India as any history book on the Raj. In this treasure trove of household advice for young British memsahibs, they explain how to "make a hold" over servants, establish and stock a storeroom, plan a menu, manage young children, treat bites from "mad, or even doubtful dogs," and teach an Indian cook how to make fish . Whether living in camps or the jungle, on the hills or in the plains, no British woman would be at a loss with by her side. For this new edition, the editors provide a lively Introduction and notes that offer an invaluable guide to the manual.