Style and Substance: A Comedy of Manners

by Judith Martin

Recounts the story of a television personality who decides to rescue her best friend, an archaeologist working in the Greek Islands, from contented anonymity by bringing her to Washington to make her famous

Genres: Fiction, Humor

274 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

Judith Martin (née Perlman), better known by the pen name Miss Manners, is an American journalist, author, and etiquette authority.

Since 1978 she has written an advice column, which is distributed three times a week by United Features Syndicate and carried in more than 200 newspapers worldwide. In the column, she answers etiquette questions contributed by her readers and writes short essays on problems of manners, or clarifies the essential qualities of politeness.

Reviews

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember it as a lovely book, good reading with a light touch and surprisingly strong message, after all.

[Mckinley]

Doesn't suit my leisure reading taste.

[Charlie Fan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh. But then, maybe not so ugh. While the main character is a manipulative slimeball (and the supporting cast not much better... think over-sexualised, weak-willed women), I cannot say I wasn't entertained in watching this guy ooze his way through Harvard and onto the political arena. For what its worth, he does achieve a sort of redemption near the end when he vows to use his Machiavellian prowess for good. That is, if you can swallow your disgust and get that far without throwing the book away.

[John Lucy · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a first novel, this is good stuff. For contemporary readers Martin's novel may only be enjoyed as a period piece for the 50's/60's, and that's a shame.

Unfortunately, I think Martin wrote two novels here and tried sticking them together. Rookie mistake. It's still funny and delightful but she had more runway with each half of the novel. As a result of launching early, neither half ends particularly well, meaning the novel itself feels like one long marathon that continues even after you finish.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yes, Miss Manners can write fiction. No, this is not the story of the Awful-Nuisance family with whom we are familiar from her etiquette books, but it is a fun read and chock full of D.C. ambience for those who like that sort of stuff.

[Kaethe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Because she is hilarious as Miss Manners, I had very high hopes for this novel. It's fine, but it isn't so snarky as the Manners tone that I have come to love. I'll stick with the etiquette books.

ILL copy

[Avis Black · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'd always enjoyed Martins' Miss Manners books, but her fiction isn't much to brag about.