Thanks for breaking the list apart--the links amongst books seem much clearer now.
The Poison Master should probably be an Honorary Mention, not a Fantasy of Manners. It isn't wholly concerned with the characteristics you've outlined; the distractions that David noted don't fit. However, I'd maintain that Alivet's plot arc, the main one, agrees with the criteria.
I found my brief plug from earlier this year (http://groups.google.com/groups?selm=MPG.1889ffbca4de0ee498969e%40netnews.worldnet.att.net). It doesn't help at all, though. :) "Thinking person's Gothic" is the only useful phrase.
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The Poison Master should probably be an Honorary Mention, not a Fantasy of Manners. It isn't wholly concerned with the characteristics you've outlined; the distractions that David noted don't fit. However, I'd maintain that Alivet's plot arc, the main one, agrees with the criteria.
I found my brief plug from earlier this year (http://groups.google.com/groups?selm=MPG.1889ffbca4de0ee498969e%40netnews.worldnet.att.net). It doesn't help at all, though. :) "Thinking person's Gothic" is the only useful phrase.