Dear Mary: The Spectator Book of Solutions by Mary Killen

Mary Killen tackles such urgent concerns as: how to make ambiguous passes so as to preclude the humiliation of possible rejection; what to buy as a Christmas present for someone you disapprove of; what the correct way is to ring a gong; how much clearing up you should do before your daily arrives; how to acquire charisma, remember people’s names, avoid making charitable contributions to doorstep callers, tactfully deal with a colleague’s problem of personal hygiene, discourage taxi drivers from chatting, deal with dodgy garages, duck unwelcome kisses, and cope with the myriad other social anxieties that disturb the tenor of daily life.

It’s generally accepted that the best bit of The Spectator is probably on the inside back cover, where Mary Killen, the resident agony aunt, dispenses advice on the problems that really oppress the magazine’s readers. The beauty of the column is that you can appreciate it on two levels. One is admiration for the ingenuity and ruthlessness of Miss Killen’s remedies … The other is anthropological. No more perfect insight into the concerns of the English upper middle classes can be found’ Evening Standard