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The Party

In The Party, Sally Quinn turns her trademark sharp wit on the Washington social scene and offers an irreverent look at what goes on at the parties you read about in the columns. From seating debacles to real-life scandals, she reveals her firsthand experiences as a member of the Washington power elite to illustrate how to entertain for any occasion.

No one knows better than Quinn how to make parties work. She has thrown some of the most talked-about parties and has attended most of the others. As Quinn writes, all that is necessary is that the host live by the golden rule: "Treat your guests the way you would like to be treated."

The Party provides a checklist of ideas to help make the important decisions—such as what time of day (or night) or month and how to choose the invitations, the place, the food, the booze, the setting, the table, the entertainment, and, above all, the guests. Within these guidelines, Quinn tells about her own adventures, stories, and techniques from all kinds of different parties—from the elaborate, formal dinner to the impromptu get-together. Her playful, poignant, and often hilarious accounts of party disasters from her own and others' parties will strike a chord with anyone who has ever entertained.

The Party is not only an amusing and lively glimpse into the party scene but also a useful and practical guide to making your own parties a success and guaranteeing that your guests will want to come back.