I teach history from Victorian times to World War 2 and this book is perfect for our no cell phone policy that we are implementing next year. There are so many games that require very little materials. It is perfect for any history classroom. I love it so much. I cannot wait to see what my students think of the games.

5 stars

Thanks to the author and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A short book with a variety of games for each group size and easily adaptable to different ages, most games required no additional tools apart from pen and paper, which makes them perfect for a spontaneous game night.
The pictures were absolutely adorable and so unbelievably cute, I wish there were more of them.

Victorian Parlour Games are for game night enthusiasts and in general those who like to spend time offline with parlour games and similar.
The art style is amazing, and the range of games covered is rich. I loved going through this and will certainly play some of the new games I was introduced to with my loved ones.

I absolutely love Victorian Parlour Games, by Ned Wolfe! It's a fabulous book full of games, and activities, some very familiar, and some yet to be discovered. With beautiful illustrations this makes a lovely keepsake, and the perfect gift.

A wonderful book for primary school teachers, camp counselors, programming librarians, and others who work with children and young adults in a group setting. The games are, for the most part, familiar classics but its convenient to have them all in one place. Each game includes a brief description of its roots or social connections, and the inclusion of more recent elements (such as a reference to Doctor Who) is a good way to engage with a younger audience. Thanks to NetGalley for this arc!

This is a fun book you will want to have around. If you are looking for something to do with family or friends and want to forgo the screens for an evening, the Victorians did indeed know how to have fun. Each game is described well with clear rules. Many of these I was familiar with but didn't know they were Victorian. Others were brand new to me.

While I can certainly commend the author for researching and compiling victorian games, I'm not sure I needed a book to teach me the rules of Hangman or Musical Chairs. It's nice to have them all in once place, and it could be a valuable resource for kids or people who work with kids, however. I like the illustration style as well.

Filled with easy to follow instructions on party games new and old, this would make an excellent and unique housewarming gift. Also a great option for readers who enjoy 19th century authors who reference this games such as Louisa May Alcott and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Wonderfully laid out with retro illustrations and chock full of games with instructions and variations.

An excellent choice for those looking to add variety to their entertainment, homeschool families and history lovers. Accessible fun for children and adults alike.

Recommended.


Thank you to Chronicle Books and NetGalley for the PDF

Pros: My family loves to play games when we gather, but we tend to repeat the same ones over and over. I wanted to read this book to learn about some new-to-us games to add to our gatherings. (I also wanted to read this book because the cover art is so eye catching!) This book is fun and detailed yet succinct in its explanations of games, and I appreciate that includes information like number of players and needed supplies (my favorite was a vacuum for clean up!).

Cons: None that I can think of!

Thank you to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for the opportunity to read this book.

Every family should have this book. There is no excuse for being bored when you have access to so many fun games, especially when very little is needed in the way of equipment. The book is bright with cute clear pictures, and the descriptions of the games are easy to understand. For those who want to mix it up, there are often variations. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this.

The new secret surprise for your next dinner party!

What a cute little book! It’s full of great games, both well-known classics and hidden gems lost to time. I can’t wait to try some of these with my friends!

Thank you to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for this ARC.

This book has some fun and goofy games for groups, along with several variations for almost every game. Many are already familiar to most people, but the background information gives insights into the historical time period.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Fun games to play at home. I truly wish I had this during lock down. It even has fun games for two people. As someone who's obsessed with history, this was a fun twist on games.

This book is SO FUN! I'm a big game night person and I love hearing about the origins of party games, so I had to pick this up. It's a beautiful giftable copy for any fan of games, history, and odd facts. The content is broken down into 5 categories: Party Games, Active Games, Table Games, Romantic Games, and Word Games. To be honest, a lot of these games you can find the rules to with a quick google search, but this book breaks it down very simply and includes variations as well as the history behind some of them, which. I loved reading (I bet you didn't know there was a connection between Thomas Edison and pillow fights, huh?!).

If you are a big game family, or if you are planning a Bridgerton ball or Pride and Prejudice ball, this book would be perfect to have on hand to use for authentic classic games that Jane Austen may have played! It's fun to imagine what Jo March might've looked like playing Frog in the Middle haha. Some of my favorites are Crambo, Doublets, Forfeits, Charades (of course a classic!), The Laughing Game, and Feeding the Baby,

This book is such a delight and now I want to be friends with the author (he called me dear reader in the introduction, sigh).