18th Century books and essays on etiquette
Additional Resources
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Last updated: Jan 5, 2024
- The School of Manners, or Rules for Childrens Behaviour (4th ed., 1701)
- Rules of Good Deportment, or of Good Breeding (1720)
- Rules of Good Deportment for Church-Officers; or, friendly advices to them (1730)
- The Rudiments of Genteel Behavior (1737)
- The Whole Duty of a Woman: Or, an infallible Guide to the Fair Sex containing Rules, Directions, and Observations, for their Conduct and Behavior through all Ages and Circumstances of Life, as Virgins, Wives, or Widows (1737)
- A Present for an Apprentice: or, a Sure Guide To gain both Esteem and an Estate. With Rules for his Conduct to his Master, and in the World. (2nd ed., 1740)
- A Little Pretty Pocket-Book (1744) -->
- Washington’s Copy of Rules of Civility & Decent Behaviour In Company and Conversation – Transcription
- The Lady’s Companion: or, an Infallible Guide to the Fair Sex (1743)
- Jonathan Swift’s Treatise on Good Manners and Good Breeding
- The Governess; Or, The Little Female Academy. Calculated for the Entertainment and Instruction of Young Ladies in their Education. (1749)
- The ladies monitor: or, instructions for the fair sex (1758)
- Benjamin Franklin’s “The Way to Wealth”
- Magazin des Enfans, ou Dialogues Entre un Sage Gouvernante, & plusieurs de ses Eleves de la premiere Distinction (1767)
- The Art of Pleasing in Conversation from The Town and Country Magazine, 1779
- Samuel Johnson’s essay on The Art of Pleasing in Conversation
- The Young Lady’s Parental Monitor: containing, I. Dr. Gregory’s “Father’s Legacy to his Daughters. II. Lady Pennington’s “Unfortunate Mother’s Advice to her Absent Daughters. III. Marchioness de Lambert’s “Advice of a Mother to her Daughter.” (1792)
- Principles of politeness, and of knowing the world (2nd ed., 1798; see also Chesterfield’s letters to his son on the art of becoming a man of the world and a gentleman, 1746-1771)
- The Young Misses Magazine: Containing Dialogues Between a Governess and Several Young Ladies of Quality, Her Scholars. (1800)
- A Present for an Apprentice: or, a Sure Guide to Esteem and Wealth: with rules for his conduct to his master, and in the world. (3rd ed., 1807)
With grateful thanks to Hallie, whose post on the 18cWoman mailing list inspired this linkspage.
