At Home: A Short History of Private Life

Bill Bryson’s *At Home* is a witty and erudite exploration of the domestic sphere, tracing the evolution of the private home from medieval great halls to the modern suburban dwelling. Structured as a series of tours through the author’s own Norfolk rectory, the book uses each room as a springboard to investigate the commerce, architecture, technology, and social customs that shaped daily life. From the history of wallpaper and lighting to the complex economics of food and the strange origins of household pests, Bryson blends historical research with personal anecdote to reveal how the home became a site of both comfort and anxiety.

Description adapted from Open Library ↗.