دانلود کتاب The Water Closet: A New History

The history of the water closet is a social history in itself, with many curious aspects. It is also a story of ingenious experiments, many of them failures. Beginning with the ancient civilisations, Roy Palmer explains the development and variation of the wc, its place in society, and in literature, and its sudden popularisation in the nineteenth century.

The problems of the pioneers-inventors and manufacturers-are described, together with the skills of the British potters. In addition, the early writings of two famous Victorian plumbers, P. J. Davies and S. S. Hellyer, are examined. The gradual evolution of cisterns, ball valves and pedestals is traced, with due attention to associated legislation and public regulations. There is a great deal of incidental humour in the unfolding story of the we and much fascination in its intricate mechanics.

There was an aesthetic as well as a functional side to building wcs, and the story ranges from individual extravagance to public utility, told in a world context and brought right up to date with the wc. A superb collection of plates illustrates both the opulence and simplicity of the wc during its evolution, and the text is augmented with a full bibliography.