The conduct book (also book of manners, book of etiquette, courtesy book) is difficult to define as a literary genre, because it often merges into categories such as moral tutors, catechism, sports manuals, and guides to married and domestic life and hygiene. Early modern conduct books are a treasure trove of information on social conduct and relationships.
Conduct books contain norms in regard to behavior at table and towards guests, the control of bodily wastes and expressions of emotion, conduct within the family, at school, at church, in the town…
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“Conduct book”, in:
Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online
, Editors of the English edition: Graeme Dunphy, Andrew Gow. Original German Edition: Enzyklopädie der Neuzeit. Im Auftrag des Kulturwissenschaftlichen Instituts (Essen) und in Verbindung mit den Fachherausgebern herausgegeben von Friedrich Jaeger. Copyright © J.B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag GmbH 2005–2012.
Consulted online on 18 November 2018 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_SIM_016874>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20170206