Letters to His Son on the Art of Becoming a Man of the World and a Gentleman
Philip Stanhope, 4Th Earl Of Chesterfield
Read by Sibella Denton
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
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