大象传媒

The mark of a civilised country is to know what it is to be civil. But what if you don't know? Across the ages, social commentators have written guide books to tell the uninitiated how to do the right thing at the right time in the right way.

And it's not just snobs that have published guides - the great Renaissance theologian Erasmus took time out from arguing with Luther to instruct children how to behave in company.

Nor is it yet another invention of Victorian England. Five thousand years ago, Ptah-Hotep set down on papyrus the rules of behaviour that all wise men should convey to their sons.

In the late 18th century we learned Britain and America aren鈥檛 just divided by a common language, but also by manners. In 1883, Walter R. Houghton published American Etiquette and Rules of Politeness, defining the way modern America behaves.

Presented by Anne Widdecombe.
Produced by David Prest.

A Whistledown production for 大象传媒 Radio 4, first broadcast in January 2016.