Practical Hints to Young Females

This 1815 book is principally addressed to girls, but also explains to the husband his reciprocal duties to his wife.

The works of 'Mrs Taylor of Ongar' (1757–1830) began with advice books for her own daughters. This 1815 publication, addressed to 'females in the middle ranks', assumes that a girl's aspiration is to be a wife and mother, but also explains to the husband his duties to his wife.Displaying her intellectual and literary abilities from a young age, 'Mrs Taylor of Ongar' (1757–1830) enjoyed writing all her life. She had eleven children, of whom six (four of them writers) survived to adulthood. Her published works began with advice books for her own daughters, produced when increasing deafness made ordinary conversation difficult for her. Given the difficulty of providing advice equally appropriate to girls at all levels of society, this 1815 work is addressed to 'females in the middle ranks'. It is assumed that a girl's aspiration, as well as her destiny, is to be a wife and mother: conduct towards the husband, and the rearing of children, are of prime importance. But there is also a chapter for the husband, pointing out his reciprocal duties to his wife as an equal partner in their relationship. The book offers fascinating insights into the middle-class ideal of domestic happiness.