Perry's novels are filled with descriptions of nineteenth-century life, from the food and dress to the social conventions observed by the various segments of the population. The kitchen in a middle-class home is the center of activity. Cookstoves are in use, but refrigeration has not been invented. Food is kept in a larder off the kitchen and spoils rapidly, so there are few leftovers kept for long. Dishes, such as "bubble and squeak," a concoction made of onions and cabbage mixed with mashed potatoes and heated in a skillet enhance the setting. In winter, the kitchen would have been the warmest place in the house, since the stove burned continually. Fireplaces heat the rest of the house in winter, probably burning coal, which produces black dust and soot. In summer the windows are open, letting in the dust from the streets.

Having a maid-of-all-work is practical, since keeping...