Conventional correspondence : epistolary culture of the Dutch elite, 1770-1850 / by Willemijn Ruberg ; translated by Maria Sherwood-Smith.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Ruberg, Willemijn, 1975-

Series:

Egodocuments and history series ; v. 4.

Egodocuments and history series, 1873-653X ; v. 4

Standardized Title:

Conventionele correspondentie. English

Language:

Dutch

English

Subjects (All):

Elite (Social sciences)--Netherlands--History--18th century.

Elite (Social sciences).

Elite (Social sciences)--Netherlands--History--19th century.

Letter writing, Dutch.

History.

Manners and customs.

Netherlands--Social life and customs--18th century.

Netherlands.

Netherlands--Social life and customs--19th century.

Letter writing, Dutch--History--18th century.

Letter writing, Dutch--History--19th century.

Physical Description:

vi, 281 pages : illustrations ; 25 cm.

Place of Publication:

Leiden ; Boston : Brill, 2011.

Language Note:

Translated from the Dutch.

Summary:

Letter writing within that class during that period was more than a form of communication, says Ruberg (cultural history, Utrecht U., The Netherlands), but also a social interaction subject to rules as elaborated as those of table manners or paying calls. She explores how correspondence actually functioned in practice, paying special attention to what norms were attached to the exchange of letters within and between families and how letters could serve as a medium to demonstrate, teach, or learn correct behavior. She broadens the conventional scope of the study of egodocuments--autobiographies, diaries, and letters--by considering the form of the letters as well as their content. She covers epistolary theory, everyday correspondence, children's letters, adolescents' letters, and ceremonial correspondence. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Contents:

I Epistolary Theory 17

Introduction 17

Etiquette books and letter-writing manuals as a source 18

Epistolary theory 22

Epistolary theory in practice 32

Famous letter-writers as models 43

Conclusion 51

II Everyday correspondence 55

Introduction 55

Writing materials and a place to write 56

Post 62

Languages 67

Salutation, signature and postscript 77

'Le stile cest l'homme' -style 84

Themes and taboos 91

Receiving a letter 107

Conclusion 109

III Children's letters 113

Introduction 113

Learning to write letters U5

Confidentiality, naturalness and individuality 125

Character building 140

Conclusion 156

IV Adolescents' letters 158

Introduction 158

From schoolboy to student 160

Adolescents' letters and gender 178

Engagement 190

Conclusion 211

V Ceremonial correspondence 213

Introduction 213

Means of communication and customs 214

The content of ceremonial letters 225

The function of ceremonial correspondence 239

Cult of sincerity 243

Conclusion 250.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9789004209732

9004209735

OCLC:

734002343