16 June 2011

The Resurgence of the Gentleman

As some of you may know, I lived for a short time in a place idyllically called "The Gentleman's Lodge," a phrase coined by fellow Five Townsians. It was very lodge-like in quality and appearance, and we were, for the most part, gentlemen inhabiting it. I look upon those halcyon days with great pride. Now, I find myself trying to relocate my gentlemanliness. Perhaps it slipped beneath my coat rack, or wasn't unpacked in the last move. In any case, there are two blogs I have been following to help me through the rougher times.

The first is the Year of the Gentleman, a blog by a friend of a friend. He hasn't written much of late, but there is certainly something to be gleaned from his compact, well-written posts.

And only recently has this blog been pointed out to me: the Art of Manliness. Herein lies a compendium of gentlemanly knowledge unrivaled in the history of Internetdom. Its articles are particularly well-researched, and the free e-books that come with an e-mail subscription ("Guide to Being a Gentleman in 2008" and "Man Cookbook") are informative, evocative, and, in many cases, downright tasty.

So if you, too, are on a quest for perfect gentlemanliness, or are trying to get back that suavté you used to have, these must definitely be on your "to read" list.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to find a bear to wrestle. Don't worry; I'll roll up my shirt-sleeves.