Debrett's New Guide to Etiquette and Modern Manners

Rating:
Summary: be prepared for the social occasion
Review: The book Etiquette and Modern Manners by John Morgan, who died much too young in a tragic accident in 2000, is published by the British publishing house Debrett's, publisher of many authoritative social reference guide books. Some advice you might find overdone. However, if you follow the suggestions when in doubt you can hardly go wrong. This guide covers many things, such as entertaining, dressing or writing letters in correct style. For example, this book informs you about the correct way to address people with titles and what to do if you are invited to a shooting party. We like John Morgan?s style as he always tries to explain why an etiquette would make sense. For some it might be an old fashioned thing of the past, but if you would like to be prepared for that social occasion, this book will give you some reliable advice.

Rating:
Summary: Waste of Money !
Review: This book is an absolute waste of good money.
I know now, how to address the eldest son of a Scottish peer at the Henley Regatta, but not an ambassador or a Consul at a much more frequent dinner party!

That the bottle of Port should never be handed clockwise may be a nice tradition we should hold on to, but where do the hands belong at a table when they are not busy eating? Where does the left one remain when drinking? etc. etc. etc.

I would have expected a Guide for the 21st Century.

Any offers for a second hand issue..... just kidding I wouldn't want it on my concience.

Rating:
Summary: An Essential Book
Review: This book is an excellent resource for tips on manners from mobile telephone and internet etiquette to throwing a party for the Queen. Almost all of the tips are correct - though I have my doubts about the suggestion that a man help a lady into a taxi and then follow her in through the same door (forcing her to slide along the taxi seat).

The biggest problem I found with this book was the author's occasionally affected style of writing and the frequent use of non-English phrases (which is considered extremely bad form in written English). I was very surprised that the master of modern manners would be lacking in knowledge of the rules of good English writing.

Despite its shortcomings, this is still an essential book. I give it four stars because its content is so useful. It loses a star because of the affectation and poor English style.