Scottish writer Christian Isobel Johnstone (1781-1857) enjoyed a prolific and wide-ranging literary career as a journalist and novelist. She established several periodicals with her second husband, John Johnstone, and was the only female journalist to edit a major periodical until the 1860s. Written under the pseudonym Margaret Dods, the first edition of this housekeeping guide was published in 1826. The book is a comprehensive guide to housekeeping, containing not only recipes and cooking advice but also instructions for effective cleaning, table laying, and food preservation, as well as other useful domestic hints. This second edition was published in 1827 and contains substantial additions, including a compendium of French cookery, an enhanced section on confectionery and a further 200 recipes. The book was enormously popular and several more editions were printed subsequently, providing Johnstone with a steady income for the rest of her life.