In No Vulgar Hotel, her celebration of Venice published last year, Judith Martin tells a story about an impatient Venetian matron who, during carnival time, finds a policewoman stopping people from crossing one of the city’s bridges. The matron is angry; she is not a tourist, she lives in the neighbourhood, she must be allowed through. The policewoman responds good-naturedly but still the matron keeps up her tirade. When the crowds are allowed to cross, the policewoman hands her a ticket. “What for?” the matron explodes. “Mal educato (being badly brought up),” the policewoman replies.

It is tempting to see the policewoman as an alter ego of Martin, who is better known in the US by her pseudonym Miss Manners. Her column on etiquette is published in about 250 newspapers across America and on MSN.com and her books, such as Miss Manners’ Guide to Excruciatingly Correct Behavior, make her a somewhat intimidating companion to invite for tea.