Victorian Gesture/Etiquette
Hello!
I would very much like to find out about gesture in Britain during the 1800's. Things that within social crowds, people would find too intimate, or even too vulgar. As well as that, I'd like to discuss things that people would take as an insult, things that would make them laugh - just social situations in which a single gesture of the hand, head or body would make a resounding impact on a crowd or even an individual person. I have searched Google high and low, and I will be buying a few Victorian etiquette books, but I wasn't sure if these particular questions would be answered.
If what I'm asking for isn't explained properly, then I have an example. As far as I'm aware, when a man holds his packet of cigarettes out for a woman to take via her mouth, it was considered a sign of the man wishing to kiss her! I need more things like that, only covering the general spectrum of emotion - and I would like the information to regard both genders, so that should a situation come up, I could have my character react in a way that was considered correct.
I apologise if this has been asked before, I just couldn't find it when I was looking through.
I would very much like to find out about gesture in Britain during the 1800's. Things that within social crowds, people would find too intimate, or even too vulgar. As well as that, I'd like to discuss things that people would take as an insult, things that would make them laugh - just social situations in which a single gesture of the hand, head or body would make a resounding impact on a crowd or even an individual person. I have searched Google high and low, and I will be buying a few Victorian etiquette books, but I wasn't sure if these particular questions would be answered.
If what I'm asking for isn't explained properly, then I have an example. As far as I'm aware, when a man holds his packet of cigarettes out for a woman to take via her mouth, it was considered a sign of the man wishing to kiss her! I need more things like that, only covering the general spectrum of emotion - and I would like the information to regard both genders, so that should a situation come up, I could have my character react in a way that was considered correct.
I apologise if this has been asked before, I just couldn't find it when I was looking through.