The art of the dinner party
I can't imagine the luxury of living somewhere with a room large enough for a big dinner table to just sit in (and not just vanish instantly because it's the living room and everyone needs the space constantly). Author seems to suggest eight or so people around the same table. Wow. That kind of thing is the preserve of the rich or the elderly, who bought a house when they were cheap. Middle-class dinner parties in someone's house used to be quite common in the UK; now they're a rich people thing. I do know some rich people who have dining rooms; a room just for eating in. It does seem very civilised.