The Art of Kissing: Curiously, Historically, Humorously, Poetically Considered

There is something magnificently absurd about a gentleman in 1976 sitting down to write a definitive treatise on kissing, treating the humble smooch with the gravity of a constitutional lawyer. Will Rossiter does exactly that, weaving together curious historical facts, literary quotations from poets who clearly loved their subject, and a gentle wit that feels pleasantly dated in the best way. He traces kissing from ancient Roman sacred rituals to Victorian drawing-room customs, from the poetry of desire to the practical politics of the social kiss. The book revels in the strangeness of human custom: why do we press our mouths to another person's mouth to signal affection? What did the Romans know that we've forgotten? How has an act of such intimacy become also an act of greeting, of reconciliation, of betrayal? Rossiter answers these questions with charm and erudition, offering a window into a more whimsical era when scholars could treat light topics with heavy seriousness. Perfect for readers who enjoy cultural curiosities, literary trivia, or simply want to impress at dinner parties with exceptionally specific knowledge about the history of the kiss.