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.§17. "Genteel Conversation, Directions to Servants, Argument against abolishing Christianity," and other Pamphlets. IV. Swift. Vol. 9. From Steele and Addison to Pope and Swift. The Cambridge History of English and American Literature: An Encyclopedia... The book was completed in 1731, but may have been conceived of as early as 1704.The Wines Of France. – André L Simon One of Swift's last works, it was written in between bouts of vertigo and was not presented for publication until 1738.A Modest Proposal and Other Satires, Introduction, pp. 23–24, George R. Levine, Prometheus Books, 1995, .
Bergen Evans calls it "a tissue of moth-eaten phrases, worn-out wisecracks, musty proverbs and threadbare sententiousness".Dictionary of Quotations, collected and arranged and with comments by Bergen Evans, New York: Delacorte Press, 1968, p. 235
References
External links Jonathan Swift, 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. In Three Dialogues. B. Motte, and C. Bathurst, at the Middle Temple-Gate in Fleet-Street, 1738, Via Google Books Polite Conversation in Three Dialogues by Jonathan Swift at Project Gutenberg