These are not the manners of Emily Post but a guide – and a reminder- that manners make for a civilised society. There are the things we should know and do – queuing without shoving, no spitting in the street or no littering and then there is the advice on what to do in awkward situations and how to avoid social pitfalls. Sandi Toksvig will be waiting for your well-written thank-you letters once you’ve discovered her gem of a book!
Peas & Queues The Minefield of Modern Manners Synopsis
How do you get rid of unwanted guests? What do you do if there's a racket in the quiet carriage? Who are you supposed to kiss -- and is it one kiss or two? How to behave, like how to punctuate, is an aspect of life that many are no longer taught - and getting it wrong is the stuff of comedy at best and humiliation at worst. Thankfully, Sandi Toksvig has come to the rescue with her entertaining guide to modern manners,with tips on what to do whether you're talking to a bore, or forgot their name in the first place. (Just call them 'darling'.) The award-winning Radio 4 broadcaster and writer offers guidance on the social pitfalls of every phase of life, from christenings to condolence letters - and has uncovered fascinating details about how our manners have changed across time, from the earliest etiquettes (little cards to remind courtiers how to behave) to the changing nature of spoons. With characteristic wit and perceptiveness, and revealing the trickiest of her encounters along the way, she highlights decency rather than convention and provides an essential guide to twenty-first century behaviour.
'[Toksvig is a] national treasure and doyenne of Radio 4' (Guardian)
'There are three things you immediately notice about Sandi Toksvig. Her height, her wit and her distinctive voice... it's rip-roaring stuff, and it translates to the page, too.' (Independent on Sunday)
Author
About Sandi Toksvig
Sandi Toksvig is a well known broadcaster for both television and radio, hosts The News Quiz on BBC Radio 4 and 1001 Things You Should Know on Channel 4. She presented Excess Baggage on Radio 4 untill 2012. She has written more than twenty books including fiction and non-fiction for both adults and children, most recently Valentine Grey, and is a regular columnist for Good Housekeeping magazine and in September 2012 her latest play 'Bully Boy' was the opening production for London's first new theatre in thirty years, the St James. Sandi is the new Chancellor of Portsmouth University.
