A humorous and charming investigation into what it really means to have proper manners
Most of us know a bit about what passes for good manners-holding doors open, sending thank-you notes, no elbows on the table-and we certainly know bad manners when we see them. But where has this patchwork of beliefs and behaviors come from? How did manners develop? How do they change? And why do they matter so much? In examining English manners, Henry Hitchings delves into the English character and investigates what it means to be English.
Sorry! presents an amusing, illuminating, and quirky audit of British manners. From basic table manners to appropriate sexual conduct, via hospitality, chivalry, faux pas, and online etiquette, Hitchings traces the history of England's customs and courtesies. Putting some of the most astute observers of humanity-including Jane Austen and Samuel Pepys-under the microscope, he uses their lives and writings to pry open the often downright peculiar secrets of the English character. Hitchings's blend of history, anthropology, and personal journey helps us understand the bizarre and contested cultural baggage that goes along with our understanding of what it means to have good manners.
"In this terrifically entertaining, surprisingly thoughtful book about manners and Englishness, Hitchings describes his own country's culture as a paradox: simultaneously rude and polite . . . Like a good conversation, [Sorry!] allows for many fruitful digressions . . . Hitchings is a lively guide through these thickets, pointing out the bizarre while inviting us to take another look at just how o
Kate Tuttle, The Boston Globe
"[Sorry! is an] entertaining and informative survey of English manners past and present."
