This work investigates the complex social and cultural significance embedded within the seemingly mundane act of eating dinner. Margaret Visser, a noted scholar of classical studies and social history, utilizes an interdisciplinary approach to dissect the rituals, etiquette, and historical evolution of the meal. By examining everything from the placement of utensils to the seating arrangements at a table, she argues that dinner serves as a primary site for the reinforcement of social hierarchies and cultural identity.

This text is widely regarded as a foundational study in the anthropology of food, noted for its meticulous research and accessible prose. The scope of Visser's analysis provides a comprehensive framework for understanding how daily habits reflect deeper societal structures.