The Decline and Fall of Whist: An Old Fashioned View of New Fangled Play

"The Decline and Fall of Whist: An Old Fashioned View of New Fangled Play" by Hewby is a critique of the card game Whist, presented in a polemical and somewhat humorous style, written during the late 19th century. The book takes a nostalgic look at traditional Whist play while lambasting the so-called modern rules and conventions that Hewby views as detrimental to the game. The likely topic of the book revolves around the history of Whist, its evolution, and the author’s vehement opposition to newfangled practices in Whist. In the text, Hewby delineates various "wooden arrangements," which refer to arbitrary rules and conventions that he believes have led to the decline of the game's foundational principles. He examines several contemporary practices, such as the emphasis on leading from the longest suit instead of the strongest, and the reliance on complex signals and rules that remove the need for strategic thinking. Throughout the book, Hewby evokes historical figures in Whist literature, contrasting their insights with modern interpretations that he considers misguided or overly complicated. The work serves not only as a defense of traditional Whist but also as a call to return to a more intuitive and skillful approach to the game.