Noblesse Oblige. An Enquiry into the Identifiable Characteristics of the English Aristocracy

Alan Ross, Nancy Mitford, Evelyn Waugh, 'Strix', Christopher Sykes and John Betjeman. Edited by Nancy Mitford. Illustrated by Osbert Lancaster.

Hamish Hamilton. London. 1956. First edition, first impression. Hardback, octavo; red cloth-bound boards, dust jacket. 114 pages. B&w illustrations by Osbert Lancaster. English. 205 x 140mm. 0.25kg. . Very good, in good dust jacket; light shelf wear, slight ruffling to spine ends and forecorners, slight toning and soiling to jacket, small stain to lower edge of front panel, not price-clipped; offsetting to endpapers, previous owner's signature to front pastedown.

A collection of writings on the social implications of "U"- and "Non-U" language, terms popularised by Nancy Mitford to identify 'true' members of the Upper Classes. The concept of 'Upper-Class English Usage' in linguistics was introduced by Professor Alan Ross in 1954. Mitford then published an essay on the subject in Encounter, which was followed by repostes and comments by many includng Evelyn Waugh, 'Strix' and Christopher Sykes. With amusing illustrations by Osbert Lancaster.