Jane Austen's Guide to Good Manners: Compliments, Charades & Horrible Blunders [Hardcover]

Josephine Ross (Author), Henrietta Webb (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: October 3, 2006 | ISBN-10: 159691274X | ISBN-13: 978-1596912748

Jane Austen's Guide to Good Manners is 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 of Pride and Prejudice couldn'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.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Charming guide to period etiquette and social niceties' Financial Times Book of the Year 'How to refuse a marriage proposal politely, address someone correctly or dance without social embarrassment and other issues of the day are accompanied by a range of witty and beautiful watercolours that emphasise the elegance of Austen's world and lead you straight back to her inimitable fiction' Good Book Guide 'Warm charming' New Statesman 'Has everything from how to refuse a proposal of marriage to what to wear for a nice morning walk' Sunday Express --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

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.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA (October 3, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159691274X
• ISBN-13: 978-1596912748
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 4.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #56,523 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #18 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Women's Studies > Women Writers
  • #85 in Books > Education & Reference > Etiquette

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

95 of 96 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Helping to explain some of the more obscure aspects of Jane Austen's works, with elegance and art December 26, 2006

By Rebecca Huston

Format:Hardcover

Being a fan of nearly everything Jane Austen, it was pretty much a foregone conclusion that I would buy this book. The Regency period of English history -- from about 1790 to 1820 -- has always interested me, and has been a lucrative trade for modern romance writers, but I was curious about something. How was the Regency period actually? And to solve that question, writer Josephine Ross goes right to the source: none other than the most famous author of the Regency period, Jane Austen, who wrote six novels, and a wide selection of letters, to find out what were the correct manners of the time.

The Regency period was a time when to know how to behave was important. Having the knowledge of when to speak, how to speak, dress, and even introduce yourself could make or break your social success. With a gentle tongue-in-cheek humor, Josephine Ross takes examples from Austen's heroes and heroines to show the right way to behave, in a series of chapters that run the gamut from conversation to marriage and children.

Beginning with an Introduction about the Authoress, Jane Austen herself, the reader is guided into the world of polite society, starting with Manners, Introductions, Conversation, Dining and Dancing, Dress and Taste, Matrimony, Family and finally, Servants. For each aspect, Ross draws on the observations made in the books and letters, and more importantly, shows why a blunder -- or save -- was made.

What I really liked about the book is that it suddenly opened up some of the more obtuse passages in the books that didn't make much sense to me when I had first read them. Of course, Jane Austen already knew that her audience were very familiar with the background that she was working with, and so naturally, didn't bother to explain anything. But for the modern reader, with our quick world of the internet, flashy clothing, and a rather casual attitude towards relationships, some of the behavior seems downright strange. Why would plain white clothing make a woman fashionable above all else; why would a gentlewoman never, but never, visit a man alone, and how being able to make an introduction could prove to be invaluable later?

And yes, many of these same ideas apply in our own world. Some might find them to be terribly old fashioned, but some basics still matter -- especially when a person finds themselves in a scenario where good manners do count, such as say, in a business setting or when meeting potential in-laws, and both skill and tact are called for.

Along with the humor and various aha! moments, the other pleasure of this book were the delicate watercolours painted by Henrietta Webb that illustrated the book throughout. They caught the mood perfectly, and with just a dash of irony as well.

For collectors and fans of Jane Austen's novels, and anyone who needs a good laugh or quiet chuckle, this slim volume -- it's under 150 pages in length -- would make a delightful little present. The layout and design is lovely, and easy on the eyes, presented in a small, hardback format. Josephine Ross has also written a more scholarly work on Jane Austen, which goes into more detail about life in the Regency period.

Happily recommended.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for the Regency Period April 15, 2008

By A. Trowhill

Format:Hardcover

This book is great if you are interested in etiquette, dress and marriage - Regency style. The book enlightened me on several things like - if I would refuse to dance with a man when he asked me, I would have to sit out two dances - if he found another partner. If he did not find another partner, I could not dance the rest of the night! It incorporates the characters of Jane Austen - why they did what they did, or why they didn't. Great book to have! I've shared it with all of my friends!

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully Presented May 6, 2008

By Dolores Doll

Format:Hardcover

Not only is the content of this guide insightful, witty and fun, the presentation is just wonderful. It is a slightly small book, hardcover, with a cover jacket (as pictured), as well as a string bookmark. The watercolours throughout are delightful, and add to the content.

The excerpts from Austen's letters add to the information being presented, as well as illustrative examples from her novels. This guide helped to explain some of the finer points and traditions featured throughout the novels.

A very handsome looking book with impressive content.