Evelyne Webb Bowdich[note 1] (néeGeorge; 1861–1930), who wrote under the nameMrs. Bowdich, was an English writer and inventor. She contributed articles to the child rearing journalBaby: The Mother's Magazine, which formed the basis for her book,Confidential Chats with Mothers on the Healthy Rearing of their Children (1890). She also authored avegetarian cookbook,New Vegetarian Dishes (1892). In addition, she filed two patents.
Bowdich authored articles on child rearing forBaby:The Mother's Magazine, including "The Child with the Perpetual Cold",[6] "Our Seed-Time and Harvest",[7] and a series of articles titled "Confidential Chats".[8] She also contributed an article on spoiled children toEvery Woman's Encyclopaedia.[2]
In 1890, Bowdich publishedConfidential Chats with Mothers: On the Healthy Rearing of Children, a revision and enlargement of articles previously published inBaby:The Mother's Magazine.[9] Her advice was based on her own experiences as a mother:[10]
[t]here are already many highly useful and well-known works treating of maternity and its responsibilities; but they are mostly written by medical men, who, although giving most excellent advice, are obliged in a great measure to speak theoretically. I am therefore emboldened to offer some useful hints from my own experience.
Bowdich was a proponent of maternal instinct and expressed concerns that a mother's confidence in her own natural feelings was being undermined. She criticised the rising trend of infants being cared for by someone other than their mother, describing it as unnatural. She argued that a young baby required the love and care of a mother, emphasising the importance of her presence and nurturing.[11]
New Vegetarian Dishes, revised second edition cover
Bowdich publishedNew Vegetarian Dishes in 1892, containing 221 recipes, 200 of which were created and tested by herself.[15] Dishes included "Soups, Salads Savouries, Stews, Soufflés, and Sauces".[16] Its preface was authored byErnest Bell and its cover was created byGleeson White.[15][17]
The cookbook set itself apart from earlier vegetarian works by emphasising the enjoyment and flavour of vegetarian cooking. While many vegetarian cookbooks at the time promoted a more restrictive diet, often limiting both the variety of foods and the use of seasonings, Bowdich's approach focused on creating satisfying and flavourful vegetarian meals.[18]
The book received praise in a number of publications, includingThe Zoophilist,The Bazaar, Exchange and Mart, and Journal of the Household, andThe Saturday Review.[4][19][20] A revised second edition was published in 1893;[21] at least 12 editions were published.[22]
Bowdich filed two patents: one in 1890 for a "drop receiver", designed to catch drops that fall from the spouts of mineral water and other syphons after use,[23] and another in 1914 for a "drip arrester".[24]
She married John Bowdich on 5 September 1882 at the Church of St. Stephen the Martyr,Regent's Park.[1] They had one son, Harcourt (1886–1912).[27][28] Her husband died in 1914.[29]
Bowdich died inHendon in the final quarter of 1930, at the age of 69.[30]
A selection of Bowdich's recipes were included in Anne O'Connell'sEarly Vegetarian Recipes (2009) and Mark Thompson'sVintage Vegetarian Cuisine.[31][32]
New Vegetarian Dishes is included in theNC State University Libraries Bernard Unti Book and Ephemera Collection on Animal Studies.[33]
