The Etiquette of the Victorian Handshake: Advice on Opposite Sex Greetings
“Among friends the shaking of the hand is the most genuine and cordial expression of good-will.”
The Ladies’ and Gentlemen’s Etiquette, 1877.
Yes by John Everett Millais, 1877.
When we think of nineteenth century greetings, many of us naturally picture bows, curtsies, and subtle inclinations of the head. But these were not the only types of gestures with which to greet one’s friends and acquaintances. Fans of Elizabeth Gaskell will know that, in some cases, a handshake was equally appropriate. In her 1855 novel North and South, John Thornton, a northerner, regularly shakes hands with his friends. Southerner Margaret Hale, however, is unfamiliar with the custom. In one of the most memorable scenes from the novel, Gaskell writes:[…]Continue Reading
