If you enjoy the book, the movie version of Cold Comfort Farm is a family favorite. "I saw something nasty in the woodshed." So clever and funny!

Anonymous wrote:The Pursuit of Love by Nancy Mitford

Came to recommend this. Seconded!

Anonymous wrote:I haven’t read him, because it’s not really my preferred style, but I think Noel Coward is supposed to epitomize what you’re looking for.

You might also enjoy “Auntie Mame” by Patrick Dennis.

I never realized this was a book, but I was OBSESSED with the Rosalind Russell movie of this when I was a kid. Thank you Ted Turner for putting all those old movies on free cable! "Life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death."

There's always Oscar Wilde, but you've probably read that stuff.

Anonymous wrote:Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. Yes, it’s a fantasy, but it’s set in the Regency era and its wit and style are more closely related to a Jane Austen society commentary than anything else. The writing is superb. Don’t skip the footnotes!

Agree this is a great book.

Gary Shteyngart's stuff is very witty....but not really high-class stuff.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. Yes, it’s a fantasy, but it’s set in the Regency era and its wit and style are more closely related to a Jane Austen society commentary than anything else. The writing is superb. Don’t skip the footnotes!

I love this book so much and want more people to read it!

I tried. I really tried.

Anonymous wrote:Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. Yes, it’s a fantasy, but it’s set in the Regency era and its wit and style are more closely related to a Jane Austen society commentary than anything else. The writing is superb. Don’t skip the footnotes!

I love this book so much and want more people to read it!

I haven’t read him, because it’s not really my preferred style, but I think Noel Coward is supposed to epitomize what you’re looking for.

You might also enjoy “Auntie Mame” by Patrick Dennis.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the Sarah Caudwell mysteries (starting with Thus was Adonis Murdered) are sort of Jane Austen meets Agatha Christie-- very funny in an ironic way.

I think this is an excellent suggestion (OP here), but unfortunately, I think I have read most (all?) of them!

Not sure why this type of book is so British-coded, but concede that pretty much all of the examples I can think of are also from across the pond.

Np here and I was going to suggest Caudewell’s series before I saw pps but I do have two good suggestions: Ngaio marsh’s Inspector Allyn mysteries if you feel like a mystery and if you re more in a Jane Austen/comedy of manners mood Barchester Towers by Anthony Trollope.

Ty for mentioning Trollope! Especially the Barsetshire Chronicles and Paliser Novels