Society as I Have Found It
Ward McAllister was the self-appointed arbiter of New York society in the decades after the Civil War, the ally of Mrs. William Astor and the man who coined the phrase the Four Hundred for the people who mattered. Society as I Have Found It, published in 1890, is his memoir and his manual. He recalls his family, a youth spent learning the ways of London, Italy and Pau, the summers at Newport where he organized picnics and cotillions, and the great balls of the 1870s and 1880s, and he gives detailed instruction on dinners, Madeiras and champagnes, cooks and caterers, invitations and the art of entering society. It was mocked at the time, and it is a candid record of an age of extravagance. It is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, with the first chapter free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about Society as I Have Found It
Society as I Have Found It by Ward McAllister can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read Society as I Have Found It online?
Yes. Society as I Have Found It opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is Society as I Have Found It free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of Society as I Have Found It is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is Society as I Have Found It in the public domain?
Yes. Society as I Have Found It by Ward McAllister is a public-domain work. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read Society as I Have Found It?
About 3 h 33 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is Society as I Have Found It?
Society as I Have Found It by Ward McAllister is filed under "History" in the Vinteuil library.
