Noblesse Oblige - Nancy Mitford
Noblesse Oblige: An Enquiry into the Identifiable Characteristics of the English Aristocracy
Author: Alan S. C. Ross, Evelyn Waugh, ‘Strix’, Christopher Sykes, and John Betjeman Edited: Nancy Mitford
Illustrator: Osbert Lancaster
Edition: 1st edition
Publisher: Hamish Hamilton, London
Date: 1956
Format: 20.5x14 cm
Binding: Original blue cloth, with silvered tooling title and author to spine
Pagination: 1-114pp
Condition: Internally very fine No foxing no marks. Cover fine slight shading to end papers in line with dust wrapper, dust wrapper fine slight bumping to top edge.
Description: a satirical yet insightful collection of essays examining the linguistic, cultural, and behavioural markers of the British upper class in the mid-20th century. Edited and partly inspired by the linguist Alan S. C. Ross, the book famously popularized the distinction between "U" (upper-class) and "non-U" (non-upper-class) English, which became a cultural talking point in Britain during the 1950s.
The volume features contributions from some of the most prominent literary and cultural figures of the time:
Alan S. C. Ross, whose original academic article coined the "U and non-U" terminology;
Nancy Mitford, who brought the idea to public attention in her essay "The English Aristocracy," blending wit with social observation;
Evelyn Waugh, who adds his signature ironic tone to the discussion;
‘Strix’ (pseudonym of Peter Fleming), who contributes commentary with a journalist’s edge;
Christopher Sykes, offering a historically grounded view;
John Betjeman, the future Poet Laureate, who provides a poetic and nostalgic perspective.
Illustrated by Osbert Lancaster, a noted cartoonist and architectural historian, the book includes whimsical drawings that enhance the satire and capture the visual language of class distinctions across centuries.
