The Proper Bostonians

by Cleveland Amory

Product Details Mass Market 1 pages Plume (September 20, 1959) English 0525470026 978-0525470021

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Sociology, Humor, American History

380 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1947

About the author

Cleveland Amory was an American author, journalist, television critic, and prominent animal rights activist. He gained early recognition with The Proper Bostonians (1947), a witty examination of Boston’s elite, and continued to satirize high society with The Last Resorts and Who Killed Society? Over a long career, he contributed to major publications, including The Saturday Evening Post, TV Guide, and Parade, and was a commentator on NBC’s Today show until his outspoken views on animal rights led to his dismissal.
A passionate advocate for animal welfare, Amory founded the Fund for Animals in 1967 and played a key role in several high-profile animal rescues, including the relocation of burros from the Grand Canyon. He also established the Black Beauty Ranch, a sanctuary for abused and abandoned animals. His best-selling Cat trilogy, beginning with The Cat Who Came for Christmas (1987), chronicled his life with a stray cat named Polar Bear and further cemented his legacy as a defender of animals. Recognized as a pioneer of the modern animal rights movement, he influenced legislation and public awareness while enlisting celebrities in his campaigns.

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is quite the story about the origins and perseverance of WASP Bostonian elite – at least from the vantage point of six decades back. Often hilarious though not necessarily scathing; I suspect it provoked much societal consternation towards the author (himself carrying one of “The” family names). He apparently ended up writing books about his cat, contributing to Parade and was a fixture on the Today Show so one might view this as a cautionary tale about pissing off a whole segment of your town’s populace, at least if you disdain NBC’s morning offering as much as I do.

The machinations of these gentlemen and gentlewomen, according to Amory, seem simultaneously predictable and bizarre. They’re one of those mysteries eaten by an enigma wrapped inside a riddle packaged within a fortune cookie or however that matryoshka-like reference goes. Amory covers seemingly all facets; their munificent charity offset by a notable stinginess towards retailers and tip jars; Their strictures on “good breeding” by selective marriage which often resulted in a disturbing union of first cousins – Medici-style; Their unrelenting love and corporate control of Harvard which they pronounce Hah-vud (not of Southie origin as I long suspected).

Lest you be confused, these “right families” are not descendents of the hard-scrabble, persecution-relief Mayflowerites. These Grandfathers came here strictly to make a buck and, after the early exploits of one John Hancock, they learned to protect said buck from any threat of profligacy by subsequent generations. Thus they’re a highly conservative, provincial group that started with a few successful sea merchants before the merchant paradigm shifted toward the wrong sort of commerce (no Jordan Marsh department store magnates or Joe Kennedy rum runners needed apply . The “right” family door was bolted shut long before).

[Antoine · Rating 3 out of 5]

My grandparents were bitterly hostile to this book, and never seem to have forgiven Amory for writing it. They felt (although it was a subject that it was easy to get a straight or logical answer from them about) that he had got it "wrong," or maybe that he was a fool to write the book at all, an overt satirical treatment of his own people.

Be that as it may, I enjoyed it, and gained a good deal of insight from it into the starchy New England world that my Grandparents grew up in. I learned about the importance of wearing brown shoes, and a number of amusing anecdotes. I am sure some of it seems unfair and hurtful if you are too close to it—satire can be like that—and that, as a piece of sociology, it is imprecise and anecdotal (though if it were more scientific, I suspect it would be more offensive to its subjects, not less). Whatever. It is only a book.

[Autumn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bought at a used bookstore because of the Edward Gorey cover. Thoroughly enjoyable history of Boston's one-tenth of one percent, from the late 18th century onward. Highly readable and interesting.

[Leslie Drew · Rating 4 out of 5]

How much has changed and how much is the same

[Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

- The first Bostonians are rather inwards: they tend to marry each other (because they think their breed is the best), and they usually don't want to allow outsiders in

- Even though they're rater inwards and confident in themselves, they also have the desire to be seen as aristocrats: they want to have family crest, name recognition as old families in Europe

- First Bostonians are keen to stay within the Boston area and not go elsewhere

[L.M. Vincent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second time I've read this book, and I enjoyed it every bit as much as an encore. Of course, it might resonate more for those who live or have spent time in Boston, but the the humor and anecdotes are transcendent. Not a satire in my opinion--though often labeled as such--but a breezy depiction of a strata of Bostonians that have faded from view, for the most part, although their ghosts and behaviors persist in ever-diminishing, but still influential, pockets of society.

[Michelle]

What is it about Boston? Much is explained in this gently, affectionately satirical book about the origins and traditions of Boston society. Plenty of amusing and enlightening local lore. I finished it thinking that despite its age - its description stops just post World War II - it would have made a fairly good orientation manual for my present job.

[jess b · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is kind of adorable. Written in the 1940s, it's basically observations about all the little peccadillos of Boston high society from the 1830s onward. Turns out Boston society is super weird, in an endearing way, at least as Amory tells it. A surprisingly funny and light read.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hysterical.

[Sue Campbell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read about the beginnings of the Boston Brahmin society.