1st Edition

British and American Letter Manuals, 1680-1810, Volume 1

By Eve Tavor Bannet Copyright 2008
    1712 Pages
    by Routledge

    312 Pages
    by Routledge

    During the 18th century, letter manuals became the most popular form of conduct literature. They were marketed to and used by a wide spectrum of society, from maidservants and apprentices, through military officers and merchants, to gentlemen, parents and children. This work presents the most influential manuals from both sides of the Atlantic.

    The Form of Letters; The New Academy of Complements: Or, the Lover's Secretary; The Complete Letter Writer: Or Polite English Secretary, 12th edn (1766); The New Complete Letter Writer: Or, The Art of Correspondence (1790); Translations from the French; The Secretary in Fashion, or, An Elegant and Compendious Way of Writing all Manner of Letters, Composed in French by the Sieur de la Serre, Chief Historiographer to the King of France , 6th edn (London: John Cripps, 1683), pp. 1-52, 70-85. British Library, shelfmark 1478.e.2; Familiar and Courtly Letters, to Persons of Honour and Quality, by M. Voiture , 3rd edn, 2 vols (London: Sam. Briscoe, 1701 [1702]), vol. 1, pp. 10–19. British Library, shelfmark 1608/5797; Manuals Published in London; The Academy of Complements: With Many New Additions of Songs and Catches A-la-Mode. Stored with Variety of Complemental and Elegant Expressions of Love and Courtship. Also witty and Ingenious Dialogues and Discourses, Amorous and Jovial. With Significant Letters upon Several Occasions. Composed for the Use of Ladies and Gentlewomen. By the Most Refined Wits of this Age (London: P. Parker, 1684), title page, frontispiece, pp. 129-55. University of Illinois Library, shelfmark IUA00040; L. B., Sir C. S., Sir W. D. [Charles Sackville, Earl of Dorset], The New Academy of Complements, Erected for Ladies, Gentlewomen, Courtiers, Gentlemen, Scholars, Soldiers, Citizens, Country-men; and All Persons of What Degree Soever, of Both Sexes. Stored with Variety of Courtly and Civil Complements, Eloquent Letters of Love and Friendship. With an Exact Collection of the Newest and Choicest Songs Alamode, Both Amorous and Jovial (London: Awnsham and John Churchill, 1698), title page, frontispiece, 'To the Reader', pp. 25-84, 'Table of Letters' [pp. 320-3]. British Library, shelfmark C.136.aa7; Manuals Published in London and Worcester, MA; A New Academy of Compliments: Or, The Lover's Secretary: Being Wit and Mirth Improved, by the Most Elegant Expressions Used in the Art of Courtship, in Divers Examples of Writing or Inditing Letters, relating either to Love or to Business, 14th edn (London: C. Hitch, 1754), title page, 'Preface', 'Contents', pp. 26-60. Bodleian Library, Oxford University, shelfmark Douce C440; Manuals Published in London, Philadelphia, Wilmington, DE and New York; The American Academy of Compliments; or The Complete American Secretary (Philadelphia, PA: n.p., 1796), title page, 'Preface to the Reader', pp. 1-33. American Antiquarian Society, Dated Books

    Biography

    Eve Tavor Bannet