Amy Vanderbilt's New Complete Book of Etiquette: The Guide to Gracious Living

by Amy Vanderbilt

with drawings by Fred McCarroll, Mary Suzuki, and Andy Warhol.

Genres: Reference, Nonfiction, Classics

738 pages, hardback

First published January 1, 1952

About the author

Amy Vanderbilt was an American authority on etiquette. In 1952 she published the best selling book Amy Vanderbilt's Complete Book of Etiquette. The book, later retitled Amy Vanderbilt's Etiquette, has been updated and is still in circulation today. The most recent edition was edited by Nancy Tuckerman and Nancy Dunnan. Its longtime popularity has led to it being considered a standard of etiquette writing.

She is also the author or collector of cooking materials, including the 1961 book Amy Vanderbilt's Complete Cook Book illustrated by Andy Warhol.

Vanderbilt descended from either an uncle or brother of Cornelius Vanderbilt and is therefore not an official descendant-member of the Vanderbilt family. She was born in New York City and worked as a part-time reporter for the Staten Island Advance when she was 16. She was educated in Switzerland and at the Packer Collegiate Institute in Brooklyn before attending New York University. She worked in advertising and public relations, and published her famous book after five years of research. From 1954 to 1960 she hosted the television program It's in Good Taste and from 1960 to 1962 she hosted the radio program The Right Thing To Do. She also worked as a consultant for several agencies and organizations, including the U.S. Department of State.

On December 27, 1974, she died from multiple fractures of the skull after falling from a second-floor window in her townhouse on East 87th Street in New York. To this day, it is not clear whether her fall was accidental (most likely due to the medications she took for hypertension, which friends and relatives later said caused her to have severe dizzy spells) or whether she committed suicide.

Reviews

[Dmehringer · Rating 4 out of 5]

We bought this excruciatingly correct etiquette book, 1954 edition, for $2 at a used book sale in Cannon Beach, Oregon. What a delightful read! I now know how to correctly answer an invitation to dinner at the White House, and how to behave if a celebrity happens to be one of the dinner party guests. Also, if my husband does anything incorrectly in public, it is always my fault! "Gracious Living Without Servants" is my all-time favorite section. I have managed, so I am fortunate to have gracious and understanding friends!

[Jorge · Rating 4 out of 5]

At Mexico city I found a translated copy to spanish from Diana publishers issued on 1968! Amazingly the translator, María Luz Perea, went farway adapting all practices at USA posted from Amy Vanderbilt, including middle and high classes on that time.

[Beka · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was really an interesting read. There were several areas where I thought that it would be nice if some of these traditions were still around, but there were other areas where I'm glad that we don't have to live by such strict rules anymore (especially in the clothing section!).

[Hikaru · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's interesting to see how some things have changed and other things haven't.

[Susan Card · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an edition from the 1950’s. Fascinating and good to read at bedtime, doesn’t keep you up late

[Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful and elegant, a lovely look at past propriety!

[Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy etiquette books. All these rules worked out for every detail of social life are fascinating, and frankly, pretty funny.

This is the one I have around now. Particularly useful is Chapter 42, "Gracious Living Without Servants."

[Susie]

With chapters like "Fastidious, Well-Mannered Woman", "Problem Drinkers", "Obnoxious Guests" and "Gracious Living Without Servants", I didn't know where to start! I have learned that Sean and I, thank god, handled our courtship without an ounce of etiquette.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Holy cow I never knew eating a shrimp could be DISASTROUS. But ok. Whatever. If I ever visit the pope, you can guarantee my calling card will be flawed. But it won't be Amy Vanderbilt's fault.

This book covers everything. More interesting these days is what it doesn't cover.

[Erika Mulvenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book includes chapter on, "The Smoking Problem," "What's What in Various Sports," and "An Audience With the Pope."

[Stephanie Lou · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have the 1963 version, and refer to it quite frequently --

[Siliconspider · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is funny, (apparently true) and endlessly useful at dinner parties. Did you know for instance that it is ok to take some before passing it to someone?

[Joe Lyons · Rating 5 out of 5]

My wife's favorite book.