As Ruth Goodman writes in “The Domestic Revolution,” Britons had for ages burned wood as well as peat and other plant fuels to heat their homes and cook their food. This revolutionary change was carried out by ordinary families, the “ ‘hidden people’ of history,” as Ms. Goodman calls them. Photo: WSJThe Domestic Revolution By Ruth GoodmanLiveright, 330 pages, $27.95In the heat of today’s quarrels over global warming, “The Domestic Revolution” serves as a reminder that our own era is not unique. “Fuel, food, landscape and environment are intricately linked,” Ms. Goodman writes. “The Domestic Revolution” is dense with detail, but Ms. Goodman’s exhaustive research and evident pleasure in delivering the goods are often a delight.

Source: Wall Street Journal October 07, 2020 22:52 UTC