SO you've figured out where the soup spoon goes when you are setting out the cutlery for your dinner guests but where does the fish fork go, which is different from the snail fork and the seafood fork.
Confused? Well fortunately there is help available.
Charles MacPherson has trained butlers for hotels around the world and opened North America's only registered school for butlers and household managers. With more than 25 years of experience, MacPherson is an expert on all things related to manners and etiquette.
Beginning with a look at the history of household help and the tradition of service, he brings to light the relationship between the staff of a large household and their duties.
Jumping forward to the modern era he notes that manners are never out of style and there is always a need for excellent presentation. Whether your interest is to expand on your own understanding of etiquette or to learn from a master on entertaining, there is an abundance of information in every chapter.
MacPherson goes far beyond the basics and provides a fascinating degree of detail on every subject. Whether he is describing the proper way to clean crystal or how a
guest bedroom should be prepared, he leaves nothing to chance. With a friendly but never condescending writing style, MacPherson approaches each topic with a contagious enthusiasm.
After reading his explanation of housekeeping as compared to house-cleaning and deep cleaning, you may find a new interest in even the more dreary of those chores. Ironing, folding sheets, cleaning shoes, all have a correct way and even if you don't embrace his methods there is a lot to be learned from this champion of grace and style.
