Sorry! The English and Their 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. We certainly know bad manners
when we see them. But where has this patchwork of beliefs and behaviours come
from? How did manners develop? How do they change? And why do they matter so
much to us?

In examining our manners, Henry Hitchings delves into the English character
and investigates our notions of Englishness. Sorry! presents an amusing,
illuminating and quirky audit of English manners. From basic table manners to
appropriate sexual conduct, via hospitality, chivalry, faux pas and online
etiquette, Hitchings traces the history of our country's customs and
courtesies.

Putting under the microscope some of our most astute observers of humanity,
including Jane Austen and Samuel Pepys, he uses their lives and writings to
pry open the often downright peculiar secrets of the English character.
Hitchings' blend of history, anthropology and personal journey helps us
understand our bizarre and contested cultural baggage - and ourselves.