1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910451553703321

Autore

Smith Virginia (Virginia Sarah)

Titolo

Clean [[electronic resource] ] : a history of personal hygiene and purity / / Virginia Smith

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Oxford ; ; New York, : Oxford University Press, 2007

ISBN

1-281-15520-9

9786611155209

0-19-153819-1

1-4294-8995-2

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (470 p.)

Disciplina

613.409

Soggetti

Hygiene - History

Baths

Electronic books.

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Description based upon print version of record.

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references (p. [433]-436) and index.

Nota di contenuto

Contents; List of Illustrations; Introduction; 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; Notes; Select Bibliography; Acknowledgements of Sources; Index

Sommario/riassunto

A pioneering history of personal hygiene and body-care, from the earliest times to the present. From pre-historic grooming rituals to New Age medicine, Virginia 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. - ;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