The School of Manners

This is a late version of the 'courtesy book' of the Middle Ages: a type familiar to pages in a medieval castle, as they began their climb up the ladder to knighthood by learning how to comport themselves in society. Such old courtesy books went out of fashion in England after the Reformation, when more emphasis was placed on the state of the child's soul than on his public behaviour. In describing how a 17th century boy should behave this volume opens up a window on an unusually intimate and appealing aspect of his daily life.This 1701 edition was unillustrated, and the pictures inserted in the text have been selected from a variety of sources, all of which, like 'The School of Manners' itself, can be found in the Library of the Victoria and Albert Museum. Most date from the last quarter of the 18th century.NOTE: The book was initially published with no author's name, only 'By the Author of the English Exercises'. The author was later identified as John Garretson.