Entertaining Made Easy

Burt, Emily RoseProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.2

Word count: 108K words
Chapters: 11

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Entertaining Made Easy by Emily Rose BurtAuthor: Burt, Emily Rose,Language: English, Class: GV: Geography, Anthropology, Recreation: Recreation, Leisure, Release Date: Apr 1, 2004

Editor's review

This book is one of the representative early practical manuals on household management and social etiquette, organized around hosting guests at home, arranging gatherings, and everyday social occasions, in plain language and clear order. Its value lies not in cutting-edge ideas but in presenting one era's understanding of "proper hospitality": how to arrange seating, prepare tea and refreshments, handle different guests, and make both host and guest feel at ease. The emphasis on process and detail is, for today's readers accustomed to relying on online recipes and improvised gatherings, a reminder that the core of hospitality is thoughtful preparation and a sincere sense of propriety. As a public-domain e-book, it is not long and suits casual reading as a cultural text, and can also serve as reference material for readers studying the history of early family life and the evolution of social etiquette. Read it as a mirror: which practices are outdated, and which principles still apply today.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in the history of early family life and the evolution of social etiquette
People who enjoy browsing old lifestyle manuals for period details
Readers planning small home gatherings who want to consult traditional hosting procedures
Researchers collecting material on public-domain e-books and early practical reading

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting contemporary party-planning or creative-menu ideas
Readers seeking systematic social-skills training or psychological guidance
People who just want a modern hosting checklist they can copy directly

Reading tips

Read the table of contents first, pick chapters close to your own hosting situations for close reading, and skim the rest.
As you read, note outdated practices and principles still worth borrowing to form your own comparison list.
Treat it as historical material rather than an operating guide, and read it alongside etiquette books from other eras.
The English original is limited in length; read it in two or three sessions, summing up one social scenario each time.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Can I use this book directly to arrange a modern gathering?

It is not advisable to copy it directly. Many specific practices bear clear marks of their era, and ingredients, utensils, and social habits differ greatly from today. What can be borrowed is its emphasis on preparation flow and the propriety between host and guest; specific plans still need to be redesigned for present conditions.

Can I read it if my English is not good?

This is an English public-domain text; the language is generally plain, but old-style objects and social terms still pose some difficulty for beginners. It is suggested to read with a dictionary or a parallel translation, or first browse the contents and pick chapters of interest.

How is it different from ordinary etiquette books?

It leans more toward the practical operation and procedural arrangement of home hospitality rather than abstract sermons on behavioral norms. It focuses on concrete questions such as how to organize a gathering and how to seat guests, with a strong flavor of a household manual.

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About the author

Burt, Emily Rose Author

Emily Rose Burt is an author about whom little public information is currently available; the library holds only one work by her, Entertaining Made Easy. Judging from its title and subject, the book is likely a practical guide to home hospitality and party planning, aimed at ordinary readers who wish to host guests and create a relaxed atmosphere in a simple way. Her writing centers on the art of entertaining and tends to be practical and approachable, emphasizing workable, everyday application rather than elaborate etiquette. Because no details are recorded about her dates, nationality, education, or career, her life remains difficult to outline, and the place of this book within her writing career cannot be determined. Existing materials confirm only that she reaches readers through this single work; the background of the book, its reception, and any later writing await further public sources, and readers may regard her as one author within practical lifestyle writing.