Customer Reviews

Etiquette in Society, in Business, in Politics and at Home (Illustrated Edition) (Dodo Press)

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After 17 editions Etiquette by Emily Post is still the ultimate word on appropriate manners. In 1969 Funk & Wagnalls, the original publisher of Etiquette, produced a beautiful replica of the the 1922 first edition complete with gold lettering on navy blue pebble-finished cover boards and sturdy slipcase. The front endpaper bears a facsimile of Emily's handwritten inscription, "This is one of the first two copies printed as tests for the first edition (which is stained blue at the top) . . ." and signed "Emily Post, August 1922." Inside are private B&W photographs depicting such elegant events as, "The most elaborate dinner dance ever given in New York" as well as facsimiles of social forms.

The text of the 1922 edition is a wonderful journey through time to an era of footmen and PPC cards, debutantes and the duties of a chaperon. The work of novelist Emily Post is evident in the delightful characters such as, Mr. and Mrs. Worldly and the Eminents who represent the epitome of elegance and good taste while the social-climbing Richard Vulgar represents the worst. As dated as it may seem, some things are eternal: read what Emily Post wrote 88 years ago:

"It is commonplace to remark that older people invariably feel that the younger generation is speeding swiftly on the road to perdition. But whether the present younger generation is really any nearer to that frightful end than any previous one, is a question that we, of the present older generation are scarcely qualified to answer. To be sure, manners seem to have vanished. . . . It is difficult to maintain that youth today is so very different from what it has been in other periods of the country's history, especially as the 'capriciousness of beauty,' the 'heartlessness' and 'carlessness' of youth are charges of a too-suspiciously bromidic flavor to carry conviction."

If you realize that what you are looking at is a synopsis of what "best" society was in post WWI America, it is a fascinating read. I tended to skip over the format of the invitations, but it's comment on what is and what is not proper behavior is amazing. As an example, a woman should not travel alone...but if she does, and she sees someone she does know, she should NOT have dinner with them more then once...and it really would be better for all concerned if she simply took dinner in her cabin, instead. She is not, however, opposed to pointing out some of the discrepencies within the society, such as why it is proper to go to the movies with a man, where it is all dark, and not to go out to a dinner.

I suspect that today's etiquette guides get a wider distribution then the market for this edition, but it you want to get some additional background of a Jay Gatsby type world, this will give you some of the flavor of what society was like.

Good book if you're curious about early 1900s etiquette, but mostly does not apply. Quality poor -- looks like was copied from original text.