Traditions of Civility

This 1948 collection contains eight essays by Sir Ernest Barker. All but one of these essays appeared for the first time in this volume. As to the title, Johnson defined 'civility' as 'the state of being civilised', and the title itself, Traditions of Civility, is quoted from Coventry Patmore, who uses the word in Johnson's sense. The book may be described as a series of individual studies in the history of culture and civilisation. The first five essays are united by the common theme of the legacy of Greece. The last three essays are independent; but the theme of tradition and the keynote of continuity are common to all.