A Complete Collection of Genteel and Ingenious Conversation
18th-century book by Jonathan Swift
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A Complete Collection of genteel and ingenious Conversation, according to the most polite mode and method now used at Court, and in the best Companies of England, commonly known as A Complete Collection of Genteel and Ingenious Conversation, or more simply as Polite Conversation, is a book by Jonathan Swift offering an ironic and satirical commentary on the perceived banality of conversation among the upper classes in early-18th century Great Britain. It is written in the form of a reference guide for those lacking in conversational skill.[1] The book was completed in 1731, but may have been conceived of as early as 1704.[2] One of Swift's last works, it was written in between bouts of vertigo and was not presented for publication until 1738.[3]
Bergen Evans calls it "a tissue of moth-eaten phrases, worn-out wisecracks, musty proverbs and threadbare sententiousness".[4]
