If any writer can seamlessly fuse finely crafted sentences with informative etiquette tips, it's Jane Austen. If you ever find yourself wondering how to tactfully snag a wealthy estate owner, or what to wear to a local soiree, she's your gal.
While her advice may be a little outdated ("A lady must accept an invitation to dance, or spend the rest of the evening sitting out all the dances"), some hints for politeness, such as never being tardy and never showing up to parties you weren't invited to, have thankfully stood the test of time.
Check out these 8 ballroom etiquette tips from "A Dance with Jane Austen: How a Novelist and Her Characters Went to the Ball" [Frances Lincoln, $24.95]: