Lord Chesterfield's LettersOxford University Press, UK, 1998年9月10日 - 449 頁 `My object is to have you fit to live; which, if you are not, I do not desire that you should live at all.' So wrote Lord Chesterfield in one of the most celebrated and controversial correspondences between a father and son. Chesterfield wrote almost daily to his natural son, Philip, from 1737 onwards, providing him with instruction in etiquette and the worldly arts. Praised in their day as a complete manual of education, and despised by Samuel Johnson for teaching `the morals of a whore and the manners of a dancing-master', these letters reflect the political craft of a leading statesman and the urbane wit of a man who associated with Pope, Addison, and Swift. The letters reveal Chesterfield's political cynicism and his belief that his country had `always been goverened by the only two or three people, out of two or three millions, totally incapable of governing', as well as his views on good breeding. Not originally intended for publication, this entertaining correspondence illuminates fascinating aspects of eighteenth-century life and manners. - ;`My object is to have you fit to live; which, if you are not, I do not desire that you should live at all.' So wrote Lord Chesterfield in one of the most celebrated and controversial correspondences between a father and son. Chesterfield wrote almost daily to his natural son, Philip, from 1737 onwards, providing him with instruction in etiquette and the worldly arts. Praised in their day as a complete manual of education, and despised by Samuel Johnson for teaching `the morals of a whore and the manners of a dancing-master', these letters reflect the political craft of a leading statesman and the urbane wit of a man who associated with Pope, Addison, and Swift. The letters reveal Chesterfield's political cynicism and his belief that his country had `always been goverened by the only two or three people, out of two or three millions, totally incapable of governing', as well as his views on good breeding. Not originally intended for publication, this entertaining correspondence illuminates fascinating aspects of eighteenth-century life and manners. - |
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acquainted acquired Adieu Aeneid affair assure attention Austria awkward BATH believe BLACKHEATH character Charles Chesterfield common Comte consequently contempt conversation COUNTESS OF SUFFOLK Court DAYROLLES DEAR BOY DEAR FRIEND degree desire dress Duke Duke of Newcastle Earl endeavour English EUGENIA STANHOPE favour former France French friendship George George II German give godson good-breeding Graces Hague Harte hear Holy Roman Emperor honour hope Horace Horace Walpole Ireland King knowledge Lady language learning least letter LONDON Lord Lordship Madame manners matter Matthew Maty means mind minister moral nature necessary never Newcastle observe Paris Parliament passion pleasing pleasure political Pope pray Prince Prince of Orange Prussia reason received ridicule Secretary sense Seven Years War speak Stadtholder Stanhope Stanhope's suppose sure tell things thought tion true truth Voltaire Walpole's wish word write young