The Butler Speaks: A Return to Proper Etiquette, Stylish Entertaining and the Art of Good Housekeeping

This definitive work fairly oozes the polish and poise of proper butlering, etiquette and household management. MacPherson (founder of Charles MacPherson Associates), neatly lays out the fundamentals of his business into five sections. Part one covers the oddly fascinating history of the service industry, including tidbits such as a footmen's typical pay scale%E2%80%94based on height and good looks, not competence. Part two sets the etiquette standards with butlering how-tos and dos and don'ts. This is the part that will turn your brewed tea into an art form and your introductions into a statement about your pedigree, real or not. Part three is all about throwing the ultimate shebang, complete with the requisite cutlery, dishes, and glasses. Illustrations ensure you never use a three-tined dessert fork for your salad again. Mothers will appreciate part four, in which MacPherson exhorts readers not to put their elbows on the table, among other rules of table manners. A yearly cleaning calendar is just one aspect of the art of housekeeping discussed in part five. With wit and panache, MacPherson jams in reams of tips that will have you cultured in no time. Agent: Dan Mozersky. U.S and Canadian distribution: Random House. (Apr.)