A Hot Tip

Benjamin Disraeli revealed the secret behind holding one’s place at the top of Parisian society.

1844

Queen Victoria 1837-1901

Introduction

In February 1860 the new Cobden-Chevalier treaty was announced, a breakthrough free-trade deal with France, and a new era in Anglo-French relations. An especially vocal opponent of it was MP and novelist Benjamin Disraeli; so when John Bright rose in the Commons and read aloud this passage from Disraeli’s Coningsby (1844), he drew a good deal of laughter.

by Benjamin Disraeli 1804-1881

LORD Monmouth’s dinners at Paris were celebrated. It was generally agreed that they had no rivals; yet there were others who had as skilful cooks, others who, for such a purpose, were equally profuse in their expenditure. What, then, was the secret spell of his success? The simplest in the world, though no one seemed aware of it. His Lordship’s plates were always hot: whereas at Paris, in the best appointed houses, and at dinners which, for costly materials and admirable art in their preparation, cannot be surpassed, the effect is always considerably lessened, and by a mode the most mortifying:* by the mere circumstance that every one at a French dinner is served on a cold plate.

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* This phrase is constructed more like a delicate French phrase than an English one, the sort of English we hear from Hercule Poirot. Disraeli immediately follows it up with ordinary English.

Précis

In his 1844 novel Coningsby, Benjamin Disraeli declared that Lord Monmouth’s dinner parties were the talk of Paris. The question was, why were they so superior? His social rivals could not be outdone in French cuisine, but they all had one common disadvantage: they served up their food on cold plates.

Sevens

Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.

What advantage did Lord Monmouth have over his social rivals?

Suggestion

He could serve food on warm plates.

Jigsaws

Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.

He serves food on hot plates. Others serve food on cold plates. His parties are more popular.

See if you can include one or more of these words in your answer.

IExplain. IIRather. IIIPrefer.

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