Letters to His Son on the Art of Becoming a Man of the World and a Gentleman


Read by Sibella Denton

(4.6 stars; 7 reviews)

Philip Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield, was at one time Ambassador to the Hague, negotiated the second Treaty of Vienna, was a founding governor of London’s Foundling Hospital, Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, and Secretary of State. Having no legitimate children, his heir was his third cousin (another Philip) whom he adopted. Although known as a hard, calculating man, he is most well known for his letters to his natural son (i.e., illegitimate son) (also called Philip). When Philip died in 1768, the letters are addressed to his grandchildren (Philip’s two sons, Charles, and, yes, Philip!). (Sibella Denton)

From the introduction:
“The proud Lord Chesterfield would have turned in his grave had he known that he was to go down to posterity as a teacher and preacher of the gospel of not grace, but—"the graces, the graces, the graces." Natural gifts, social status, open opportunities, and his ambition, all conspired to destine him for high statesmanship. If anything was lacking in his qualifications, he had the pluck and good sense to work hard and persistently until the deficiency was made up. Something remained lacking, and not all his consummate mastery of arts could conceal that conspicuous want,—the want of heart.

Teacher and preacher he assuredly is, and long will be, yet no thanks are his due from a posterity of the common people whom he so sublimely despised. His pious mission was not to raise the level of the multitude, but to lift a single individual upon a pedestal so high that his lowly origin should not betray itself. That individual was his, Lord Chesterfield's, illegitimate son, whose inferior blood should be given the true blue hue by concentrating upon him all the externals of aristocratic education.” (28 hr 35 min)

Chapters

000 - Introduction 9:24 Read by Sibella Denton
001 - Letter 1 8:31 Read by Sibella Denton
002 - Letters 2-5 10:18 Read by Sibella Denton
003 - Letters 6-7 8:07 Read by Sibella Denton
004 - Letters 8-10 8:03 Read by Sibella Denton
005 - Letters 11-13 6:46 Read by Sibella Denton
006 - Letters 14-15 8:45 Read by Sibella Denton
007 - Letter 16 6:10 Read by Sibella Denton
008 - Letter 17 8:24 Read by Sibella Denton
009 - Letters 18-19 7:56 Read by Sibella Denton
010 - Letters 20-21 9:55 Read by Sibella Denton
011 - Letters 22-23 7:18 Read by Sibella Denton
012 - Letters 24-26 9:39 Read by Sibella Denton
013 - Letters 27-29 12:05 Read by Sibella Denton
014 - Letters 30-31 11:19 Read by Sibella Denton
015 - Letter 32 8:08 Read by Sibella Denton
016 - Letter 33 8:12 Read by Sibella Denton
017 - Letters 34-36 7:06 Read by Sibella Denton
018 - Letter 37 7:03 Read by Sibella Denton
019 - Letters 38-39 10:40 Read by Sibella Denton
020 - Letter 40 10:03 Read by Sibella Denton
021 - Letters 41-42 12:33 Read by Sibella Denton
022 - Letters 43-44 11:17 Read by Sibella Denton
023 - Letter 45 8:22 Read by Sibella Denton
024 - Letter 46 8:51 Read by Sibella Denton
025 - Letters 47-48 13:36 Read by Sibella Denton
026 - Letter 49 12:05 Read by Sibella Denton
027 - Letter 50 5:53 Read by Sibella Denton
028 - Letter 51 9:04 Read by Sibella Denton
029 - Letter 52 13:38 Read by Sibella Denton
030 - Letter 53 10:23 Read by Sibella Denton
031 - Letter 54 11:27 Read by Sibella Denton
032 - Letter 55 11:21 Read by Sibella Denton
033 - Letter 56 11:51 Read by Sibella Denton
034 - Letters 57-59 12:28 Read by Sibella Denton
035 - Letter 60 7:04 Read by Sibella Denton
036 - Letter 61 7:18 Read by Sibella Denton
037 - Letters 62-63 12:05 Read by Sibella Denton
038 - Letter 64 11:04 Read by Sibella Denton
039 - Letters 65-66 10:58 Read by Sibella Denton
040 - Letters 67-68 8:13 Read by Sibella Denton
041 - Letter 69 5:37 Read by Sibella Denton
042 - Letter 70 10:29 Read by Sibella Denton
043 - Letter 71 11:10 Read by Sibella Denton
044 - Letters 72-74 13:03 Read by Sibella Denton
045 - Letter 75 7:06 Read by Sibella Denton
046 - Letter 76-77 9:17 Read by Sibella Denton
047 - Letter 78 6:28 Read by Sibella Denton
048 - Letter 79 6:28 Read by Sibella Denton
049 - Letter 80 6:17 Read by Sibella Denton
050 - Letter 81 11:36 Read by Sibella Denton
051 - Letter 82 12:36 Read by Sibella Denton
052 - Letter 83 8:29 Read by Sibella Denton
053 - Letter 84 7:53 Read by Sibella Denton
054 - Letter 85 5:51 Read by Sibella Denton
055 - Letter 86 6:53 Read by Sibella Denton
056 - Letter 87 4:38 Read by Sibella Denton
057 - Letter 88 11:17 Read by Sibella Denton
058 - Letter 89 6:32 Read by Sibella Denton
059 - Letter 90 11:40 Read by Sibella Denton
060 - Letter 91 9:32 Read by Sibella Denton
061 - Letter 92 10:05 Read by Sibella Denton
062 - Letter 93 8:17 Read by Sibella Denton
063 - Letter 94 5:04 Read by Sibella Denton
064 - Letter 95 11:06 Read by Sibella Denton
065 - Letter 96 4:56 Read by Sibella Denton
066 - Letter 97 10:15 Read by Sibella Denton
067 - Letter 98 4:29 Read by Sibella Denton
068 - Letters 99 8:31 Read by Sibella Denton
069 - Letter 100 11:17 Read by Sibella Denton
070 - Letter 101 9:18 Read by Sibella Denton
071 - Letter 102 6:07 Read by Sibella Denton
072 - Letter 103 5:56 Read by Sibella Denton
073 - Letter 104 8:43 Read by Sibella Denton
074 - Letter 105 8:42 Read by Sibella Denton
075 - Letter 106 4:18 Read by Sibella Denton
076 - Letter 107 6:43 Read by Sibella Denton
077 - Letter 108 5:49 Read by Sibella Denton
078 - Letter 109 4:25 Read by Sibella Denton
079 - Letter 110 8:58 Read by Sibella Denton
080 - Letter 111 6:01 Read by Sibella Denton
081 - Letter 112 7:17 Read by Sibella Denton
082 - Letter 113 6:53 Read by Sibella Denton
083 - Letter 114 8:36 Read by Sibella Denton
084 - Letter 115 7:10 Read by Sibella Denton
085 - Letter 116 10:25 Read by Sibella Denton
086 - Letter 117 10:38 Read by Sibella Denton
087 - Letter 118 4:57 Read by Sibella Denton
088 - Letter 119 8:20 Read by Sibella Denton
089 - Letter 120 9:17 Read by Sibella Denton
090 - Letter 121 9:29 Read by Sibella Denton
091 - Letter 122 6:22 Read by Sibella Denton
092 - Letter 123 9:56 Read by Sibella Denton
093 - Letter 124 7:19 Read by Sibella Denton
094 - Letter 125 10:32 Read by Sibella Denton
095 - Letter 126 6:44 Read by Sibella Denton
096 - Letter 127 7:22 Read by Sibella Denton
097 - Letter 128 12:23 Read by Sibella Denton
098 - Letter 129 7:41 Read by Sibella Denton
099 - Letter 130 7:32 Read by Sibella Denton
100 - Letter 131 8:24 Read by Sibella Denton
101 - Letter 132 8:57 Read by Sibella Denton
102 - Letter 133 9:10 Read by Sibella Denton
103 - Letter 134 7:38 Read by Sibella Denton
104 - Letter 135 8:06 Read by Sibella Denton
105 - Letter 136 8:55 Read by Sibella Denton
106 - Letter 137 6:26 Read by Sibella Denton
107 - Letter 138 5:40 Read by Sibella Denton
108 - Letter 139 6:16 Read by Sibella Denton
109 - Letter 140 6:41 Read by Sibella Denton
110 - Letter 141 8:54 Read by Sibella Denton
111 - Letter 142 7:26 Read by Sibella Denton
112 - Letter 143 6:19 Read by Sibella Denton
113 - Letter 144 5:51 Read by Sibella Denton
114 - Letter 145 8:18 Read by Sibella Denton
115 - Letter 146 5:47 Read by Sibella Denton
116 - Letter 147 11:07 Read by Sibella Denton
117 - Letter 148 7:50 Read by Sibella Denton
118 - Letter 149 6:48 Read by Sibella Denton
119 - Letter 150 6:33 Read by Sibella Denton
120 - Letter 151 8:27 Read by Sibella Denton
121 - Letter 152 7:21 Read by Sibella Denton
122 - Letter 153 6:35 Read by Sibella Denton
123 - Letter 154 6:19 Read by Sibella Denton
124 - Letter 155 8:04 Read by Sibella Denton
125 - Letter 156 10:26 Read by Sibella Denton
126 - Letter 157 7:27 Read by Sibella Denton
127 - Letter 158 7:45 Read by Sibella Denton
128 - Letter 159 6:25 Read by Sibella Denton
129 - Letter 160 8:39 Read by Sibella Denton
130 - Letter 161 5:27 Read by Sibella Denton
131 - Letter 162 7:51 Read by Sibella Denton
132 - Letter 163 8:16 Read by Sibella Denton
133 - Letter 164 9:30 Read by Sibella Denton
134 - Letter 165 7:46 Read by Sibella Denton
135 - Letter 166 9:07 Read by Sibella Denton
136 - Letter 167 7:32 Read by Sibella Denton
137 - Letter 168 10:10 Read by Sibella Denton
138 - Letter 169 7:30 Read by Sibella Denton
139 - Letter 170 7:53 Read by Sibella Denton
140 - Letter 171 6:39 Read by Sibella Denton
141 - Letter 172 6:30 Read by Sibella Denton
142 - Letter 173 9:57 Read by Sibella Denton
143 - Letter 174 6:48 Read by Sibella Denton
144 - Letter 175 3:53 Read by Sibella Denton
145 - Letter 176 5:45 Read by Sibella Denton
146 - Letter 177 10:39 Read by Sibella Denton
147 - Letter 178 8:29 Read by Sibella Denton
148 - Letter 179 8:28 Read by Sibella Denton
149 - Letter 180 7:19 Read by Sibella Denton
150 - Letter 181 14:17 Read by Sibella Denton
151 - Letter 182 5:37 Read by Sibella Denton
152 - Letter 183 5:19 Read by Sibella Denton
153 - Letter 184 4:58 Read by Sibella Denton
154 - Letter 185 7:47 Read by Sibella Denton
155 - Letter 186 8:20 Read by Sibella Denton
156 - Letter 187 8:16 Read by Sibella Denton
157 - Letter 188 6:09 Read by Sibella Denton
158 - Letter 189 10:20 Read by Sibella Denton
159 - Letters 190-191 7:45 Read by Sibella Denton
160 - Letter 192 6:41 Read by Sibella Denton
161 - Letter 193 6:17 Read by Sibella Denton
162 - Letter 194 5:53 Read by Sibella Denton
163 - Letter 195 6:28 Read by Sibella Denton
164 - Letter 196 7:37 Read by Sibella Denton
165 - Letter 197 9:40 Read by Sibella Denton
166 - Letter 198 5:05 Read by Sibella Denton
167 - Letter 199 8:28 Read by Sibella Denton
168 - Letter 200 7:42 Read by Sibella Denton
169 - Letter 201 5:19 Read by Sibella Denton
170 - Letter 202 3:29 Read by Sibella Denton
171 - Letters 203-204 5:58 Read by Sibella Denton
172 - Letters 205-206 7:25 Read by Sibella Denton
173 - Letter 207 6:03 Read by Sibella Denton
174 - Letter 208 5:52 Read by Sibella Denton
175 - Letters 209-210 8:37 Read by Sibella Denton
176 - Letter 211 5:34 Read by Sibella Denton
177 - Letter 212 7:12 Read by Sibella Denton
178 - Letter 213 4:27 Read by Sibella Denton
179 - Letter 214 6:13 Read by Sibella Denton
180 - Letter 215 5:43 Read by Sibella Denton
181 - Letter 216 5:00 Read by Sibella Denton
182 - Letters 217-218 5:00 Read by Sibella Denton
183 - Letters 219-220 7:27 Read by Sibella Denton
184 - Letter 221 5:40 Read by Sibella Denton
185 - Letters 222-223 6:36 Read by Sibella Denton
186 - Letters 224-225 6:58 Read by Sibella Denton
187 - Letters 226-228 5:57 Read by Sibella Denton
188 - Letters 229-231 7:23 Read by Sibella Denton
189 - Letters 232-233 5:53 Read by Sibella Denton
190 - Letters 234-236 7:45 Read by Sibella Denton
191 - Letters 237-238 5:50 Read by Sibella Denton
192 - Letters 239-240 6:19 Read by Sibella Denton
193 - Letters 241-242 7:51 Read by Sibella Denton
194 - Letters 243-244 7:16 Read by Sibella Denton
195 - Letters 245-246 4:42 Read by Sibella Denton
196 - Letters 247-250 5:14 Read by Sibella Denton
197 - Letters 251-253 6:24 Read by Sibella Denton
198 - Letters 254-258 6:27 Read by Sibella Denton
199 - Letters 259-260 4:51 Read by Sibella Denton
200 - Letters 261-263 5:52 Read by Sibella Denton
201 - Letters 264-267 7:57 Read by Sibella Denton
202 - Letters 268-270 6:42 Read by Sibella Denton
203 - Letters 271-272 5:18 Read by Sibella Denton
204 - Letters 273-275 7:04 Read by Sibella Denton
205 - Letters 276-277 4:19 Read by Sibella Denton
206 - Letters 278-280 6:48 Read by Sibella Denton
207 - Letters 281-282 4:57 Read by Sibella Denton
208 - Letters 283-284 5:12 Read by Sibella Denton
209 - Letters 285-286 5:55 Read by Sibella Denton
210 - Letters 287-288 5:35 Read by Sibella Denton
211 - Letters 289-291 5:45 Read by Sibella Denton
212 - Letters 292-293 5:17 Read by Sibella Denton
213 - Letters 294-296 6:40 Read by Sibella Denton
214 - Letters 297-299 5:59 Read by Sibella Denton
215 - Letters 300-302 6:12 Read by Sibella Denton
216 - Letters 303-305 6:05 Read by Sibella Denton
217 - Letters 306-307 5:21 Read by Sibella Denton
218 - Letters 308-310 6:31 Read by Sibella Denton
219 - Letters 311-316 6:38 Read by Sibella Denton
220 - Letters 317-320 4:22 Read by Sibella Denton

Reviews

Important life lessons for young men. Gripping


(5 stars)