The Duchess Who Wouldn't Sit Down

by Jesse Browner

Jesse Browner leads the way back through Western civilization, from a present-day poker game where Browner's devastatingly delicious sandwiches leave the best players penniless, to the ancient Greeks, whose gods punished or exalted the mortals according to their excellence as hosts. On the way, we visit Hitler at his summer home, Gertrude Stein in Paris and Lady Ottoline Morrell in England, Audubon in nineteeth-century America, Louis XIV at Versailles, and the Roman emperors, for whom classic dinner-table entertainment was a good poisoning. As delightful and edifying as an evening in favored company, The Duchess Who Wouldn't Sit Down is a must-read for anyone who's ever accepted an invitation-or wonders why they keep sending them out.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Society

210 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 20, 2003

About the author

Jesse Browner is the author of six books including the novels Conglomeros (Random House 1992), Turnaway (Random House 1996) and The Uncertain Hour (Bloomsbury 2007). He has also translated a number of notable books including the award winning Celine: A Biography. He lives in New York City. http://jessebrowner.com/index.htm. "

Reviews

[Angie · Rating 1 out of 5]

You know how you look at a title and expect that to give you a clue about the book? Especially when it comes to non-fiction? It's kind of a rule, right? Yeaaaah, not in this case. The interior of this book only has the vaguest link to an actual history of hospitality. Instead it presents some cherry-picked stories that are kind-of about hospitality, dresses them up with a wee bit of history, and then glazes everything with a truly pompous and unlikable author's voice. It's a sham and, ironically, makes you feel utterly unwelcome in the experience of reading it. Too much of it comes across as psuedo-intellectual naval-gazing (I am not reading this to psychoanalyze the author, thanks). Too little comes across as actual history about the topic. Even shooting to call it "informal" is putting a lie to the entire thing. P.S. I don't want to learn about the author's tragic childhood - especially as he comes across as a complete little sociopath. Unless you are/were one of the Great Hosts of history, your story has no place in even an informal "history of hospitality."

Why did I finish it? I kept hoping for more and I have a nasty history of spite-finishing books.

[Teresa · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is more about anecdotes and egos speciously connected to hospitality than it is about hospitality itself. Besides the author's ongoing self-insertion, it was disconcerting to have the lead chapter focus on Hitler as host - with comment at length about his flatulence. Rather off-putting, no matter how one spins it.

[Kate Elliott]

Honestly didn’t expect to hear so much about Hitler’s sex life from a book on hospitality.

[Judy Frabotta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mildly entertaining. An odd assortment of stories from history, loosely connected to the theme of hospitality. The stories themselves are well told.

[Clio · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read through some important moments in history as tied to the theme of hospitality.
Browner starts off with an excellent discussion of the essence of hosting and hospitality. He then scampers all over history telling anecdotes about Hitlers hospitality, through to Nero and Caligula and then to the Franks and the Gauls. Its a little disjointed, but entertaining, especially the philosophical musings on the human nature surrounding these moments.
Browners does have an unfortunate habit of ending his chapters with rhetorical questions or statements that I cant help but read in Carries voice, from Sex in the City. Have a go... 'Is one Bussy worth a house full of Duchesses who won't sit down?' or 'What is it that pains us most: our terror or our longing?'.
It's a poor comparison to Home by Bill Bryson but it holds it's own in the field of historical trivia books.
If you would like Carrie to talk you through some interesting moments from history and loosely tie them to hospitality then this is for you.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

While Browner’s attitude is sometimes frustrating and even off-putting, his book is worth reading. The wealth of information and the occasional lyrical passages about true hospitality offset the negative aspects of this book. The Duchess Who Wouldn’t Sit Down is a book for anyone who entertains guests or enjoys being entertained.

To read the rest of my review go to Suite101: http://historyphilosophybooks.suite10...

[Elaine Kozak · Rating 3 out of 5]

A curious, but enjoyable, little book offering a collection of informed anecdotes exploring the purpose and function of hospitality in different times and places. The underlying thesis is weak, however, with the real intent of the book seemingly being to exorcise some of the author's ghosts.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm actually not quite done with this one yet, but I'm pretty sure my opinion isn't going to change. It's terribly riveting--even better read aloud.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reasonably fun version of this kind of semi-history, semi-biography book. Most of the "stories" I have heard/read elsewhere though.

[Memma · Rating 1 out of 5]

Author was the literal worst and inserted his view point into everything. Urgh