The sorry demise of the gentleman’s agreement

sir – I was raised to believe that a handshake agreement between gentlemen was as binding a contract as one etched in marble.

However, I have twice this year had the unpleasant experience of such agreements being reneged upon. Are we witnessing the death of the handshake agreement?

I sincerely hope not.

David Turner

Shoreham-by-sea, West Sussex

All done on a handshake: relief of King Shalmaneser III of Assyria meeting a Babylonian