An Essay on the Art of Ingeniously Tormenting; With Proper Rules for the Exercise of the Pleasant Art. Humbly Addressed, In the First Part to the Master, Husband, &c. With Some General Instructions for Plaguing all your Acquaintance
London: A. Millar, 1753.
First Edition. Full leather.
As per Shakespeare - Speak Daggers - but use none
Satirical advice on how to nag first published anonymously and written principally by Jane Collier (1714-1755) who was governess to the daughter of author and printer Samuel Richardson when the book was written. Richardson printed the book for Andrew Millar in 1753. Collier's lifelong friend, author and playwright Sarah Fielding (sister of Henry), may have contributed to the work. The two co-wrote The Cry: A Dramatic Fable (1754), a satirical dramatic dialogue that was Fielding's 6th book and Collier's 2nd and final work. The Essay was inspired by Jonathan Swift's "Instructions to Servants" with the first part being written from the servant's point of view. Collier remarks: “you are no true lover of the noble game of Tormenting, if a good dinner, or any other convenience or enjoyment, can give you half the pleasure, as the teasing and mortifying a good industrious servant, who has done her very best to please you." Further, to wives, she advises, "Be out of humour when your husband brings company home: be angry, if he goes abroad without you; and troublesome, if he takes you with him."
The book was well received and went into ten editions between 1753 and 1811. Jane Collier died in 1755 and this first edition is the only edition published during her lifetime.
Item #9022094-5/8 x 7-1/4", contemporary full calf, raised bands, gilt linear decoration on margins of boards, 232pp.
Front joint split and nearly detached, wear to leather, contemporary owner's name on title page, missing frontis. engraving, internally bright and clean, a good copy overall.
Price: $750.00