Society as I Have Found It

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

55300

Title

Society as I Have Found It

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Ward McAllister offers a witty, first-person tour of late 19th-century high society, blending memoir with a masterclass in entertaining. From Newport picnics to New York balls, this miscellany captures the extravagance, etiquette, and social dynamics of the era with charm and irreverence.

Summary up to 500 words

In *Society as I Have Found It*, Ward McAllister presents a vibrant, self-aggrandizing memoir of American high society during the 1880s and 1890s. The text serves as both a personal history and an instructional guide to the arts of hosting, dining, and social maneuvering. McAllister recounts his family's noble yet debt-ridden origins, tracing his lineage to French Huguenots and detailing his travels across New York, Newport, London, and the American South. His narrative is filled with anecdotes of specific guests, including the Prince of Wales, Lord Roseberry, and Commodore Vanderbilt, alongside detailed instructions on wine selection, table decoration, and proper etiquette. The book captures an era of immense extravagance and rigid social codes. McAllister describes elaborate events such as the "Silver, Gold, and Diamond Dinners" at Delmonico's, where guests received gold bracelets, and the transformation of the Metropolitan Opera House into a massive ballroom for New Year's celebrations. He chronicles the revival of the four-in-hand driving craze, the "Four-in-Hand Craze," and the organization of the "Patriarchs," a social club that sought to unite the "smart" and "solid" sets. Throughout the text, McAllister defends the value of fashion and formal gatherings, arguing that individuality and the ability to make one's presence felt are the keys to immortality. While his tone is confident and slightly boastful, he frequently critiques the absurdities of the "smart set" while celebrating the opulence of a vanished world. The volume concludes with practical appendices on stationery, visiting cards, and menu formats, cementing its status as an eccentric but essential record of Gilded Age luxury.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/55300.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg55300.epub

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Categories

• Biography
• Socialites