Jane Austen's Guide to Good Manners Compliments, Charades & Horrible Blunders

by Ross, Josephine; Webb, Henrietta

• ISBN13: 9781596912748
• ISBN10: 159691274X
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-10-03
• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA

Summary

Jane Austen's Guide to Good Mannersis a light-hearted, insightful handbook written as if intended for her original Regency Era readers, and illustrated throughout with beautiful watercolors. When Anna, Jane Austen's young niece, sent her a novel for "literary comment," Jane loved everything about it, except its utter disregard for the manners of the day. The resulting and tender correspondence between the two serves as the foundation for this instructional book. Etiquette and social behavior of the early 1800s come to life in lovely chapters teaching one on how to pay and return formal "calls," how to properly refuse a proposal of marriage, who should lead off the dancing at a country-house ball, and what to wear for a morning walk. Jane Austen used these daily customs and niceties to brilliantly illuminate the cloistered world of high society women in her timeless novels. Now with this delightful handbook of correct social behavior, readers will learn just why Mrs. Bennet ofPride and Prejudicecouldn't call alone on her new, rich, bachelor neighbor and had to force the reluctant Mr. Bennet to do so...even as he uttered "Tis an etiquette I despise." An indispensable gift for any Austen fan, this beautiful book will prove irresistible to anyone wishing to go back in time to the atmosphere of their favorite Austen novels.

Author Biography

Josephine Ross has written a number of books including, most recently, Jane Austen: A Companion, published in England by Austen’s original publisher John Murray. Henrietta Webb is the co-creator of Bad Hair. They live in London.

Table of Contents

A Note on the Authoress	p. v
Manners Makyth Man - and Woman	p. 1
The Forms of Introduction	p. 15
Calling and Conversation	p. 29
Dancing and Dining	p. 49
Dress and Taste	p. 65
The Subject of Matrimony	p. 81
The Family Circle	p. 99
The Assistance of Servants	p. 115
In Conclusion	p. 131
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