Från Washingtons salonger och hvardagslif m. m. : Skildringar i bref till en…

"Från Washingtons salonger och hvardagslif m. m." by F. U. Wrangel is a collection of epistolary travel sketches and social commentary written in the early 20th century. In letters signed “Daisy” to a friend, it offers a sharp, personable guide to Washington, D.C., from drawing rooms to everyday life. The focus is on society, diplomacy, architecture, etiquette, and the habits around the White House, delivered with a European eye that is both candid and sympathetic. It is aimed at newcomers who want to navigate the city’s social codes and understand its character. The opening of the book introduces Daisy, a Swedish-born wife now living in Washington, writing to Marianne about family, her move from diplomacy to domestic life in the U.S., and practical advice on when to visit and how to avoid America’s crowded summer resorts. She promises a series of letters that will explain Washington’s life, then launches into a vivid survey of the capital’s cityscape: grand ambitions versus realities, criticisms of overused classical styles and rigid plans for the Mall, and praise for the city’s greenery, avenues, and shifting seasonal moods, with the Capitol and Library of Congress as emblematic landmarks. Next she maps the evolution of “society” in Washington—from old local families and Supreme Court circles to diplomats, senators, postwar military, and, later, millionaires—tracing tensions under Roosevelt, the cult of celebrities, complex precedence rules, and the exhausting ritual of calls and visits that especially burden diplomats. Finally, she opens the doors of the White House, recounting its history and Roosevelt-era renovations, describing New Year receptions, official dinners and musicales, the staff and aides, the first lady’s social management, the president’s daily routine, and a brisk portrait of Roosevelt’s character. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

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About this eBook

Author Wrangel, F. U. (Fredrik Ulrik), 1853-1929
LoC No. 37034697
Title Från Washingtons salonger och hvardagslif m. m. : Skildringar i bref till en väninna
Original Publication Stockholm: WAHLSTRÖM & WIDSTRAND, 1908.
Credits Jens Sadowski, Gun-Britt Carlsson, Eva Eriksson, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net
Language Swedish
LoC Class F106: United States local history: Atlantic coast. Middle Atlantic States
Subject Washington (D.C.) -- Social life and customs
Subject Washington (D.C.) -- Public life
Category Text
EBook-No. 77645
Release Date
Copyright Status Public domain in the USA.
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