The Butler Speaks : A Return to Proper Etiquette, Stylish Entertaining, and the Art of Good Housekeeping

Revised and updated paperback edition of the national bestseller (now in its fifth printing), and "definitive guide to the art of living well" (Charlotte Empey, editor-in-chief of Metro), including a new foreword by Debbie Travis and updated sections on business etiquette and everyday entertaining. Widely considered a world expert in butlering, Charles MacPherson lays out the essentials of household management in this wonderfully illustrated style, entertainment and etiquette guide. For anyone who rents or owns--be it a small urban condo or a lavish country estate--The Butler Speaks has everything you need to simplify, organize and care for your home.      Charles the Butler believes that entertaining guests and managing your home should be easy, unstuffy and stress-free. In this comprehensive volume, Charles shares modern etiquette and style tips, all geared to making you more comfortable in social situations both within the home and the workplace. He covers a wide range of topics, from cooking and cleaning, to manners, menus and text messaging etiquette. You will learn how to properly present a business card, make polite dinner conversation, create a perfect cheese plate, set a table and pull off a flawless party--all with the flair, charm and unpretentious grace of a butler. And for fans of Downton Abbey and anyone curious about the history of the service industry, Charles also offers a glimpse into the manor homes of yesteryear, revealing what life was like for the privileged "upstairs" class and for the servants working downstairs.      No matter what size home you have, The Butler Speaks is a simple and essential guide to living tastefully and gracefully.