I began this series with a question: are good manners still worth defending? After spending a month with nine books on etiquette from across the globe, I’ve realized that I wasn’t looking for rules—I was looking for philosophies.

In this final chapter of "The Art of Good Manners," I am taking you on a sensory journey through the Latin world. We’re moving beyond the "architecture" of Anglo-American traditions to explore the soul of courtesy in Romania, Italy and Spain.

I’ll share why my birth country, Romania, taught me that inclusion is an ethical obligation; how the Italian concept of Bella Figura is actually a gift of respect to others; and why a single pronoun change in Spain is sparking a quiet social revolution.

Join me as I reflect on how these small gestures—the greeting, the attentiveness, the willingness to switch languages—are not just decorative additions to a life, but its very texture.

In this episode, I’ll share:

🇷🇴 Romania: Why "The Paris of the East" prioritizes linguistic inclusion.

🇮🇹 Italy: The intersection of aesthetics and ethics (and why "ugliness" is the ultimate faux pas).

🇪🇸 Spain: How the shift to "tú" is creating a more horizontal, equal society.

🖋️ The Manifesto: My final thoughts on why courtesy is the foundation for our shared freedom.

Connect with The Ritual of Reading:

✨ Read the full essay & see the visual diary: https://theritualofreading.com/latin-etiquette-cultural-values/

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📸 Follow the visual journey on Instagram: @TheRitualOfReading

#TheRitualOfReading #ModernEtiquette #SlowLiving #BellaFigura #LiteraryLifestyle #AlexandraPoppy #CulturalHistory

Why do the French ignore you when you sneeze? In this episode, we cross the Channel to explore the "Savoir-Vivre"—the sophisticated, sometimes baffling world of French manners.

From the official Republican protocol of Jacques Gandouin to the modern "self-care" approach of Le Petit Larousse, we’re deconstructing how a country that decapitated its monarchy managed to save its elegance.

In this episode:

• The Sneeze Paradox: Why acknowledging a bodily function is "indelicat."

• Tu vs. Vous: Navigating the linguistic minefield of respect.

• The Flower Faux Pas: Why you should never bring a bouquet to a dinner party.

• Republican Elegance: How the Revolution democratized courtesy for every citizen.

Part III of the "Art of Living Among Others" series. Hosted by Alexandra Poppy at theritualofreading.com

Is etiquette a tool for exclusion, or the secret to social harmony? Join me as we journey through 100 years of American and English manners—from the rigid social blueprints of the 1920s to the digital etiquette of today.In this episode of "The Art of Living Among Others" series, we dive into the fascinating evolution of British and American etiquette. We explore three iconic voices: the "architecture" of Emily Post, the "inner work" of Eleanor Roosevelt, and the witty, modern reclamation of manners by William Hanson. Whether you're curious about the history of social graces or looking for practical advice on navigating modern life, this deep dive reveals what courtesy actually says about the societies we build.What you’ll learn in this episode:- The surprising "scandalous" history of Emily Post and her vision of "Best Society."- Why Eleanor Roosevelt believed manners were a form of psychological character building.- How William Hanson (the "clinking glasses" guy) is making etiquette relevant for the Instagram age.- The key cultural differences between UK and US social standards.Connect with the Series: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a comment below! Do you think manners still matter, or are they a relic of the past?Read the full article series here: https://theritualofreading.com/modern-etiquette-and-literature/📚 The Reading List:Etiquette in Society, in Business, in Politics, and at Home by Emily PostBuy here : https://tidd.ly/3Mx4ob3 Book of Common Sense Etiquette by Eleanor RooseveltBuy here : https://tidd.ly/4klw0wgJust Good Manners: The Essential Modern Guide by William HansonBuy here : https://tidd.ly/4r58LckMy Policy on Affiliate Links : https://theritualofreading.com/affiliate-policy/CONNECT WITH MEWebsite: ⁠https://theritualofreading.com⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/ritual_of_reading/⁠ Substack: ⁠https://theritualofreading.substack.com⁠ Pinterest: ⁠https://fr.pinterest.com/ritual_of_reading/⁠ SUPPORT MY WORKIf you value this free content, you can support me on Ko-Fi. Every contribution makes it possible to continue sharing these literary reflections.https://ko-fi.com/theritualofreading

In this February Literary Mood Board on The Ritual of Reading Podcast, I explore the art of good manners — not as a relic of the past, but as a foundation for modern freedom. Drawing on four books that shaped my thinking — The Downton Abbey Rules for Household Staff, Kazuo Ishiguro’s "The Remains of the Day", Baltasar Gracián’s "The Art of Worldly Wisdom" and Thackeray’s "Vanity Fair" — I reflect on how etiquette elevates character, cultivates dignity and shapes the way we inhabit the world together. From airport queues to quiet acts of consideration, this is a gentle manifesto for living with care, respect and humanity in our fractured age.READ ALONG WITH METhe Downton Abbey Rules for Household Staff : https://tidd.ly/49QcapoKazuo Ishiguro, "The Remains of the Day" : https://tidd.ly/45FyI9SBaltasar Gracián, "The Art of Worldly Wisdom" : https://tidd.ly/4aqHz1SWilliam Makepeace Thackeray, "Vanity Fair" : https://tidd.ly/3Mafu5wMy Policy on Affiliate Links : https://theritualofreading.com/affiliate-policy/CONNECT WITH MEWebsite: ⁠https://theritualofreading.com⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/ritual_of_reading/⁠ Substack: ⁠https://theritualofreading.substack.com⁠ Pinterest: ⁠https://fr.pinterest.com/ritual_of_reading/⁠ SUPPORT MY WORKIf you value this free content, you can support me on Ko-Fi. Every contribution makes it possible to continue sharing these literary reflections.https://ko-fi.com/theritualofreading

Welcome to Season 2 of The Ritual of Reading. In this episode, Alexandra explores the "Gentle January" philosophy. We discuss:

• The serendipity of Marguerite Yourcenar and Emmanuelle Favier.

• Travel memoirs and Russian mysteries with Lesley Blanch.

• Winter nourishment through Ayurvedic beetroot soup (get the recipe here)

• The ritual of the Gratitude Journal.

Featured Books:

'Petit éloge du feu de cheminée' by Emmanuelle Favier

'Journey into the Mind's Eye' by Lesley Blanch

• Buy your copy here : https://tidd.ly/45tcrvL

My Policy on Affiliate Links : https://theritualofreading.com/affiliate-policy/

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Have you ever hesitated to go somewhere alone? This episode is about reclaiming solitude as something precious rather than something to apologize for. I take you through my favorite Paris destinations for being deliberately, deliciously alone—a hidden museum, an ice cream parlour, and a tennis stadium—while sharing what French writers have taught me about the courage it takes to disappoint expectations and embrace your own company. A love letter to solitude, Paris, and the freedom of being alone.

Connect with me:

Website: ⁠https://theritualofreading.com⁠ 

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Welcome to The Ritual of Reading podcast.
This episode is an invitation to walk through Paris in the company of five remarkable women who refused to wait for permission to write. From George Sand’s countryside tenderness to Simone de Beauvoir’s fierce intellect, from Françoise Sagan’s smoky Parisian nights to Muriel Barbery’s lyrical prose and Clara Dupont-Monod’s historical vision—each of these authors claimed her voice in a culture that didn’t always make space for her.

We’ll explore how they lived, what they wrote, and why their words still matter. These are the women who shaped French literature not as muses or footnotes, but as creators in their own right—writing Paris into being, one page at a time.

Pour yourself a cup of tea, settle in, and let’s meet the women who wrote Paris.

Connect with me:

Website: ⁠https://theritualofreading.com⁠

Substack: ⁠https://theritualofreading.substack.com⁠

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/ritual_of_reading/⁠

Pinterest: ⁠https://fr.pinterest.com/ritual_of_reading/⁠

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November wraps Paris in wool and rain, and this month we're celebrating the women who wrote this city into being. After a month devoted to French classic authors—all men, as it happens—I'm turning to feminine voices, both contemporary and timeless.

I share three very different reads for November: Lucy Foley's dark, addictive The Paris Apartment, Nina George's healing Little Paris Bookshop, and Tatiana de Rosnay's atmospheric The Rain Watcher. We explore the essentials of Parisian feminine style—red lipstick as armour, signature scents that announce rather than whisper, and the scarf as the city's greatest fashion statement.

There's a playlist of French feminine voices to transport you to a rainy café, and an intimate evening ritual: writing a letter to your younger self, not as a pep talk, but as an honest reckoning with the path that brought you here.

Join me as we honour the women writers who claimed Paris as their own, one deliberate page at a time.

Episode includes:

• Three contemporary novels set in Paris by female authors
• A curated playlist of French feminine voices (listen here)
• My three Parisian style essentials (and why they matter)
• An evening ritual for November: letters to the self

Stay in touch

Website: ⁠https://theritualofreading.com⁠

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For years, I thought Émile Zola's writing was too dark for me. But this autumn, revisiting The Ladies' Paradise (Au Bonheur des Dames) completely changed how I see something as ordinary as shopping in my city.

Join me on a literary walk through Paris as I explore the grand department stores that inspired Zola's masterpiece—Le Bon Marché, Galeries Lafayette, and Printemps—and discover the fabric shops of Montmartre that still hold the magic of the 19th century.

In this video, we'll explore:

• The history of Parisian department stores and their architectural grandeur
• How Zola spent a year researching Le Bon Marché before writing the novel
• The psychology of desire and shopping that Zola understood over 150 years ago
• The textile shops of Montmartre and the beauty of quality craftsmanship
• Why this classic novel feels surprisingly contemporary

Subscribe to follow along with future Book Walks, and let me know in the comments: What classic have you rediscovered with fresh eyes?

📖 My Parisian Reading Rituals : Discover my favorite hidden corners of Paris for reading, pausing, and daydreaming. Download your free guide here : https://theritualofreading.com/my-parisian-reading-rituals/

🔖Connect with me:

Website: ⁠https://theritualofreading.com⁠

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This October, I'm diving into the masters of French literature—Balzac, Stendhal, and Proust—while embracing timeless Parisian beauty and autumn traditions. From audiobook discoveries to XIXth-century cosmetics, heirloom table linens, and an apple tarte tatin tribute to Maupassant, join me for a cosy exploration of classic literature and slow living in Paris.

📖 My Parisian Reading Rituals : Discover my favorite hidden corners of Paris for reading, pausing, and daydreaming. Download your free guide here : https://theritualofreading.com/my-parisian-reading-rituals/

🔖Connect with me:

Website: ⁠https://theritualofreading.com⁠

Substack: ⁠https://theritualofreading.substack.com⁠

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/ritual_of_reading/⁠

Pinterest: ⁠https://fr.pinterest.com/ritual_of_reading/⁠ 💌

Support me on Ko-Fi : https://ko-fi.com/theritualofreading