Hints on Etiquette and the Usages of Society

by Charles William Day

'Well-bred people arrive as nearly at the appointed dinner hour as they can. It is a very vulgar assumption of importance purposely to arrive half an hour behind time; besides the folly of allowing eight or ten hungry people such a tempting opportunity of discussing your foibles.' It may be a hundred and fifty years since this essential etiquette bible was first published, but within its pages is timeless advice on all manner of matters, from the dinner table to marriage, and from smoking to fashion.

Genres: Nonfiction

86 pages, book

First published January 20, 1836

Reviews

[Lyndburger]

Insightful, and while some of the advice here is outdated, a surprising good bit still applies especially now when social media makes possible the mingling between a person's different sets of relationships.

[Fairy Biba]

Well a good read for Curiosity about old Times, love to see how the Author is frank in saying things and actually truly true, not superficial. As when it is said that stiffness is not dignity! but good norm is to be spontaneous and put the the other at ease!

[Tanya]

I would've been a gentleman in the 1830s, if I could've read it then.

[Lucas]

book was OK, like a manual for old days!

[Sabrina K]

3.5 / 5 stars

One half reasonable, one half foolish.

High society must have been exhausting to live in.

[Jennifer]

18. This was a short and strange sort of book for me, the hopeful free spirit, to read. It contained archaic and elitist hints on good manners that occasionally had these eery moments of truth. Most interestingly is the pattern of boorish behavior that changes convention but not impression. You can substitute the do not read a newspaper in good company to do not read your Blackberry, etc. An interesting enough read...

[Becky]

Listened to the audio book under the assumption that this was a humorous book as that was the section in which it was located. An entire hour. And as the narration was done by one with a British accent, I can think of many others.

[Nora]

This book is a short, sweet rulebook for genteel etiquette in the 1830s. My edition is tiny and adorable -- I wouldn't want it to be any longer, but for what it is it's a fun glimpse through history.