A Bit of History

Available for over a year

David Mitchell sets out on a vigorous but impeccably polite investigation into the confusing world of manners. Are they really in decline, as many would have us believe? Or are we just throwing off the shackles of the Victorian obsession with etiquette? In the first of four episodes, David eats his lunchtime sandwiches with children in a primary school, and later goes to a street market to see manners - good and bad - in action. And he explores where our manners come from with Professors Steven Pinker from Harvard University and Stephen Mennell from University College, Dublin, and with the author Henry Hitchings. Producer: Chris Ledgard.