Whether you are a student in the classroom or at home, it’s important to learn how to be civil to others. Whether it is your teacher or your boss, there are certain rules you need to follow to be polite. Here are a few of the most popular rules of civility:
Katey Kontent
Taking place in New York City in 1938, Rules of Civility is the story of a young woman’s journey from Brooklyn to the glittering circles of the city’s high society. The story is told through the eyes of Katey, a twenty-five-year-old secretary. She is working hard as a typist in a large law firm in 1930s Manhattan. However, she is not content with her place in the world. She is hoping to find something more meaningful and grand.
The story begins on New Year’s Eve in 1938. Katey meets a mysterious young banker at a Greenwich Village jazz club. His swoon-worthy appearance and slick smile cast a spell over Katey. She begins spending nights with him. Suddenly, she is swept up into his social circle.
Katey is a tall, intelligent woman. She is a good reader. She is also an independent twenty-something. She has lived in Brooklyn with her Russian immigrant father. When she was nineteen, her father died. Katey’s mother left the family. She grew up in a boardinghouse with her roommate Eve. During her teenage years, she had a crush on Hank Grey. She thought she knew him.
As Katey works her way up the New York social ladder, she meets and befriends a group of rich, powerful women. She defends the actions of these women, justifying their behavior with her own beliefs. Ultimately, Katey realizes that everyone is deserving of respect.
George Washington
Probably one of the more important topics in the George Washington saga is how to be a decent human being. This entails a bit of self awareness, and the ability to make the best of a dwindling social network. It also entails a bit of self control and forethought, which isn’t always easy to find in an age of apathy. This is where the Rules of Civility come in handy.
The rules of civility aren’t exactly written in stone, but they do stand to some extent. They are most likely based on a set of precepts that were written in a letter to George Washington Parke Custis in November of 1796. Aside from the usual suspects, the rules are applicable to all manners of human interaction, be it social or work related. During Washington’s time, the rules were a bit more loosely applied, but that’s not to say they aren’t still in effect today. The rules of civility are a bit more esoteric than the standard set of courtesies, but the plethora of admonitions are well worth the effort. Among the rules are the aforementioned obvious ones, as well as some more complex and less obvious ones. The rules of civility are an excellent way to improve your social etiquette, while also demonstrating your sense of style. The best part is, you’ll be surprised at how easy it is to implement them.
Dicky Vanderwhile
During the course of Rules of Civility, Amor Towles takes readers through a whirlwind year in the life of Katey Kontent. The novel is an ode to a year that changed the trajectory of a young woman living in New York City. Towles uses a series of chance encounters to tell the tale.
One of the novel’s most intriguing characters is Dicky Vanderwhile. A hyper-observant party-hopper, Vanderwhile is the kind of guy who knows everyone in New York. While he isn’t the type to show up unannounced, he’s always there when you need him.
Towles does a fantastic job of capturing the energy of New York City and its environs. He shows us the city’s highs and lows from an insider’s perspective. In the process, he lays bare the flaws of the city and its people.
The novel’s greatest strength is its willingness to acknowledge that its protagonist’s life isn’t perfect. As a result, Towles’ novel isn’t a fad, but a testament to the grit and ingenuity of New Yorkers.
Aside from the requisite romance, Towles provides a look into the lives of his protagonist, a young woman who has made the switch from secretarial pool to editorial assistant. She’s also made friends with a group of young socialites. Her life isn’t perfect, but she has the money to boot.
In the novel’s best moments, Towles is at his most creative. In the novel’s most harrowing moments, Towles shows us that the path to happiness isn’t always paved with gold.
Wallace Wolcott
During the last night of 1937, Katey Kontent’s life changes for the better. She becomes acquainted with four extraordinary people in her early twenties. One of them is Wallace Wolcott. They develop a friendship that lasts for the year. But the friendship is not romantic. In fact, it ends when Wallace is killed in the Spanish Civil War.
Rules of Civility is a novel by Amor Towles. The author is a three-time best selling author. His works have been translated into thirty languages. In this novel, the author incorporates nods to the best Russian writers and Eloise at the Plaza.
The novel’s title is drawn from the rules of civility that were written by George Washington. These rules were 150 years ahead of their time.
Wallace Wolcott is a sweet, kind man. He’s a member of a bucolic gun club. He doesn’t like social events, but he enjoys the outdoors. He’s a good friend of Tinker Grey’s. In fact, Tinker is his best friend and a good neighbor.
The story takes place in Manhattan, New York, in 1938. In Rules of Civility, Wallace is an old money, quiet, down to earth man who doesn’t like showy things. However, he’s willing to help Katey prepare for war. He’s also very handsome.
Katey is an ambitious young woman. She’s the daughter of Russian immigrants. She’s also an intelligent, whip-smart woman. She insinuates herself into the circle of young socialites. However, she’s not quite the sexy woman her father was. Her secret benefactor is a wealthy godmother. She encourages her to do bigger things. She’s smart, loyal, and courageous.
Bitsy, Peaches, Hank, and Anne Grandyn
Developed by Amor Towles, Rules of Civility is a literary tour de force that evokes the sights and sounds of 1938 New York City. While a lot of the action takes place in the financial district, the characters inhabit an opulent universe of Manhattan’s finest. It’s not hard to see why this novel has garnered accolades. For one thing, the city has been home to the elite for centuries. As the center of the world’s financial capital, the city has a lot to offer.
Rules of Civility is a worthy contender for the coveted crown of New York’s best novel. The author’s penchant for describing the city’s streets, skyscrapers, and people in a way that’s both comprehensible and compelling makes for a gratifying read. Towles has done a great job of keeping the characters from feeling suffocated. This makes Rules of Civility a fun read for adults of all ages.
Towles has also done a mighty fine job of keeping the storyline fresh. As the novel progresses, the characters learn about one another and their corresponding personalities grow. They also learn about the merits of the city’s most celebrated art deco masterpiece, the Chrysler Building. It’s a testament to the author’s skills that, despite the city’s many controversies, he has managed to maintain a high standard of erudition throughout the story. It’s also worth noting that this novel is set in an era when New York was still home to a slew of industry tycoons.
Study guide
Described as a love letter to the great American city during the Great Depression, Rules of Civility is an elegantly constructed novel. Amor Towles uses beautiful prose to convey meaningful emotion.
The book is narrated by Katey Kontent, a twenty-five-year-old socialite from Brooklyn who is on the verge of taking the plunge into high society in New York. She meets her future roommate, Tinker Grey, in 1938 and the pair begins to develop a romantic relationship. The novel spans twenty-eight years and follows their journey from New York in 1938 to Key West, Florida in 1966.
Rules of Civility explores the themes of class, identity, love, friendship, and betrayal. It also explores the human condition and reveals the imperfection of human nature.
Rules of Civility is an homage to the great American novelists of the past, including F. Scott Fitzgerald and Truman Capote. It also pays homage to the work of Walker Evans, whose photographs of 1930s New York triggered the novel’s creation.
Rules of Civility is Amor Towles’ debut novel. His second novel, A Gentleman in Moscow, was released in September of 2016. His third, The Lincoln Highway, is set for release in 2021. In both novels, Towles uses elegantly constructed characters to examine class struggle, evil, and kindness. The book was nominated for multiple literary awards.
Rules of Civility is an elegant novel, with crisp writing and sparkling atmosphere. It’s a great read for a book club, but you’ll also find enduring themes that you can discuss with your friends.
