Complete Etiquette for Ladies

by Samuel Orchart Beeton

First published in 1876, Complete Etiquette for Ladies aimed to instruct English women of all ages and situations on the finer points of proper comportment in Victorian society. Penned by Samuel Orchart Beeton – husband of the renowned cookery writer Isabella – it offers a view of ideal feminine conduct at once strikingly familiar and charmingly antiquated. Resolving such troublesome issues as how to display good sense when shopping, avoid busy-body neighbours and deal with disappointed affections, it also issues stern warnings: a reputation might be lost by such simple improprieties as offering a gentleman an opinion on financial matters, uttering the word ‘stomach’ to anyone other than a physician, or wearing ribbons at the breakfast table.

Genres: Nonfiction

128 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2011

About the author

Samuel Orchart Beeton was an English publisher, best known as the husband of Mrs Beeton (Isabella Mary Mayson) and publisher of Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management.

Reviews

[Talia B-M · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75
This was just funny to read over a century after it was originally written.

[Judy Egnew Ness · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a reprint of the original, written by a man, who of course, knew just what women should be doing and wearing in 1876. Apparently feminine conduct could be extremely complicated and very strict rules were necessary to guide the young and inexperienced! It does give some background on the paradoxical expectations women have had to juggle throughout history, and helps us understand some of the biases we still face. It was particularly interesting to discover that women were apparently expected to be a strong and sacred influence on men, the home, and community, while seeming to know absolutely nothing about financial matters, business, politics, religion, sex, or anything else! But still...women must NEVER bore men by talking to them "nothing but nonsense!" A fun, amusing, and somewhat unsettling read for anyone interested in women's' issues and history.