Germans at Meat by Katherine Mansfield

A young Englishwoman dining in a German pension listens to the loud, opinionated conversations of fellow guests, reflecting on cultural differences with bemused detachment. The plot is observational, structured around a single meal, but rich in character detail and social nuance. The story gently satirizes national stereotypes and middle-class pretensions. It’s witty, ironic, and tinged with unease about belonging. Mansfield reveals how politeness masks prejudice and isolation.