Not forgetting the Tennis Party, present in so many books of the early twentieth century, now a thing of the past. Still sections on huntin’ shootin’ fishin’, and servants – but also how to deal with rationing and post-War discussions. This book, though obviously not meant to be an accurate reflection of everyday life, does still give a snapshot of the obstacles faced by the 1940s woman.

Thus set up, how could I resist? Published in 1949, Say Please is a tongue-very-much-in-cheek guide to everything from leading committees (‘A very good Chairman never lets anybody speak at all but assumes with perfect confidence and with a perfect disregard for the truth that everybody is in agreement’) to dealing with an ill relative (‘any information he cares to give must be regarded as puerile… If a patient insists on being spoken to, then he must be addressed in the third person as though he were a baby.’)

It may, of course, do nothing of the kind, which will be an enormous pity.’ The only thing that can be said for it is that it will not help you in the least to be a lady, which is all to the good as I believe it is not a desirable status, but it may make you laugh, which is always nice, even if this, also, is a waste of time. ‘This is a book on Etiquette for Ladies, neither of which or whom now exists, as everybody knows so the whole thing, both from my point of view and from yours, is the most shocking waste of time, and I have really no idea how it happened.

I bought Say Please by Virginia Graham because (a)it was a nice old hardback, (b)Virginia Graham is both a Persephone author, and co-author of the wonderful letters to and from Joyce Grenfell, (c) I re ad the Foreword. I’ve recently finished one of the funniest books I’ve read this year.

Marchlands by Karla Kuban