Americans in the early nineteenth century were, as one foreign traveler bluntly put it, "filthy, bordering on the beastly," perfectly at home in dirty, bug-infested, malodorous surroundings. Yet gradually all this changed, and today, Americans are known worldwide for their obsession with cleanliness: for their sophisticated plumbing, daily bathing, shiny hair and teeth, and spotless clothes. In Chasing Dirt , Suellen Hoy examines with grace and wit history of this remarkable transformation from "dreadfully dirty" to ...
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Americans in the early nineteenth century were, as one foreign traveler bluntly put it, "filthy, bordering on the beastly," perfectly at home in dirty, bug-infested, malodorous surroundings. Yet gradually all this changed, and today, Americans are known worldwide for their obsession with cleanliness: for their sophisticated plumbing, daily bathing, shiny hair and teeth, and spotless clothes. In Chasing Dirt , Suellen Hoy examines with grace and wit history of this remarkable transformation from "dreadfully dirty" to "cleaner than clean," ranging from the pre-Civil War era to the 1950s, when America's obsession with cleanliness reached its peak. Hoy offers a fascinating narrative, filled with vivid portraits of the men, and especially the women, who helped America come clean. Indeed, we see how cleanliness gradually shifted from a way to prevent disease to a way to assimilate, to become American. And as the book enters the modern era, we learn how advertising for soaps, mouthwashes, toothpastes, and deodorants in mass-ciculation magazines showed working men and women how to cleanse themselves and become part of the increasingly sweatless, odorless, and successful middle class. Chasing Dirt adds a new dimension to our understanding of our national culture, and along the way, it provides colorful and often amusing insight into what makes Americans the way we are today.
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Add this copy of Chasing Dirt: the American Pursuit of Cleanliness to cart. $2.90, good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Atlanta rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Austell, GA, UNITED STATES, published 1996 by Oxford University Press.
Add this copy of Chasing Dirt: the American Pursuit of Cleanliness to cart. $2.90, good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Reno rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Reno, NV, UNITED STATES, published 1996 by Oxford University Press.
Add this copy of Chasing Dirt: the American Pursuit of Cleanliness to cart. $2.90, good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Baltimore rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Halethorpe, MD, UNITED STATES, published 1996 by Oxford University Press.
Add this copy of Chasing Dirt: the American Pursuit of Cleanliness to cart. $2.90, fair condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Dallas rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 1996 by Oxford University Press.
Add this copy of Chasing Dirt: the American Pursuit of Cleanliness to cart. $3.50, very good condition, Sold by HPB-Emerald rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 1996 by Oxford University Press.
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Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Add this copy of Chasing Dirt: the American Pursuit of Cleanliness to cart. $3.50, very good condition, Sold by HPB Inc. rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 1996 by Oxford University Press.
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Seller's Description:
Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Add this copy of Chasing Dirt: the American Pursuit of Cleanliness to cart. $3.50, very good condition, Sold by Half Price Books Inc rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 1996 by Oxford University Press.
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Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Add this copy of Chasing Dirt: the American Pursuit of Cleanliness to cart. $5.49, good condition, Sold by Wonder Book - Member ABAA/ILAB rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Frederick, MD, UNITED STATES, published 1996 by Oxford University Press.
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Good. Good condition. A copy that has been read but remains intact. May contain markings such as bookplates, stamps, limited notes and highlighting, or a few light stains.
Add this copy of Chasing Dirt: the American Pursuit of Cleanliness to cart. $5.49, fair condition, Sold by St. Vinnie's Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Eugene, OR, UNITED STATES, published 1996 by Oxford University Press.
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Acceptable. Paperback 100% of proceeds go to charity! Acceptable reading copy with obvious signs of use, wear, and/or cosmetic issues. Item is complete and remains readable despite notable condition issues.
