OP: The Book of Good Manners
Social Culture Publications, New York, 1923. Hardcover. Very Good.
Questions of proper finger bowl usage, the ideal positioning of one’s name on a calling card, whether and when a lady offers her hand to a gentleman, and how to dress one’s servants can be the source of much stress. Fortunately, Victor H. Diescher’s The Book of Good Manners (1923) addresses all those concerns and more.
Though he lacks some of the narrative flourish of many of his etiquette-coaching contemporaries, Diescher is direct and to the point, cheery and self-assured (also good advice for letter writing, according to him). He covers the basics of home and business, entertaining and entertainment, correspondence and conversation—a reasonable start to anyone’s journey into establishing good behaviors.
Our copy is Very Good, overall. Slight foxing to the fore edge. The case is worn, particularly at the head and foot of the spine.
