When Marie Antoinette came to France from Austria, one of the things that the people disliked about her was that she flouted their etiquette. She found it confusing, so she chose to disregard it.Sciolino's book draws back the curtain on French manners and mores, explaining "la seduction" (better defined as "charm" than any kind of sexual pejorative) and how it relates to politics, fashion and even a highly ritualistic dinner party.Sciolino interviews journalists, fashion mavens, politicos and more to get their take on the importance of la seduction in France. Suffice it to say that, by the end of the book, I felt much better informed about the dance of manners that is a way of life for the French. This book is both extensively researched and well-written. Highly recommended for Francophiles.
