Emily Post on Entertaining

by Elizabeth L. Post

Mrs. Post tells partygivers and -goers everything they need to know to make entertaining a joy. She discusses party planning, invitations and replies, seating arrangements, table settings, serving at dinner, special considerations for business entertaining, and more. Line drawings. Index.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Food

128 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

Elizabeth L. Post (May 7, 1920 – April 24, 2010) was an etiquette writer and the granddaughter-in-law of the etiquette writer Emily Post

Reviews

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great question and answer reference style book about formal entertaining. I enjoyed it.

What made me pick this book up? It was at the clearance section at Half Price Books. Well worth my quarter.

What was the best part of the book? The parts that I would actually use like formal place settings - it's always a nagging question when I set the table!

What was the part I liked least? I probably didn't need to know about some of the hoity toity formal stuff but I found it interesting nonetheless. Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Sulpice will be at home on Sunday, March 14th from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Funny! Also, I think this was family business and not actually Emily Post.

[Stephanie Lema · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank goodness this book taught me that if I am hosting the president of the US at any point, I should escort him into the dining room instead of me being the last person to enter as all other occasions would demand

[Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little dated (not surprising since it was published in 1987) but I found it interesting to see how much thought and care is required to properly entertain guests.

[Hecka · Rating 3 out of 5]

common sense etiquette from the late eighties

[Abby Libby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very outdated, but fun to read.

[Shruthi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The world would be 7% less annoying if everyone read and followed the relevant advice in this book.

[Emmalissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

not a fan of the style but there were some interesting nuggets!

[Zade · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I very much doubt I'll ever need to give a formal party, it's still good to know the rules of proper entertaining etiquette. I know it's quite out of fashion now to follow strict manners, but it does make it easier in many cases if everyone knows exactly what is expected of her, and now I have a guide if ever I should need one.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think people need to know what the rules or guidelines are even if they choose to act otherwise. As a guide for more formal entertaining than most of the entertaing done in these informal times, someone must carry the torch and Elizabeth Post is our torch-bearer. Good manners never go out of fashion.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helpful with some questions on big parties and had an interesting historical view of gender roles in entertaining, even as recently as in the 1980s when this was published (I loved that there still was the ladies-leave-the room-while-the-men-smoke-and-discuss-business bit).

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Additional information to the big etiquette encyclopedia. I had a boss in Omaha that was amazing at entertaining and I have hopes of developing those talents someday.

[Con Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book - learnt a lot

[Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun little book. Cute bridal shower gift. You can't go wrong with Emily Post!

[Don Gubler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple and to the point.