How to Skin a Lion : A Treasury of Outmoded Advice (Hardcover)

To tell the age of any horse,
Inspect the lower jaw, of course.
The six front teeth the tale will tell,
And every doubt and fear dispel. . . .
 
Have you ever wondered how to pan for gold, train a falcon, or make a love potion? Could you smoke your own bacon or correctly address a Maharajah? If not, fear not--with this book you will know how to do all of these things and more.
           
How to Skin a Lion is a fascinating collection of miscellaneous historical advice, gathered from the magnificent archives of the British Library. Drawing on medieval manuscripts, Victorian manuals, and early twentieth-century self-help guides, this book uncovers an extraordinary range of advice dealing with everything from etiquette to apiculture, medicine to mechanics.
           
In How to Skin a Lion readers will encounter a past devoid of modern conveniences, when navigating the social scene was fraught with perils, getting dinner might get you killed, and Google, alas, was nowhere to be found.