Two Burlesques of Lord Chesterfield's Letters.

In the bustling world of eighteenth‑century England, anonymous pamphlets and verse satires were a common way for writers to comment on the hot topics of the day. When Lord Chesterfield’s famed “Letters to his Son” swept the nation after his death, a flood of responses erupted, ranging from sermons to novels and even theatrical skits. Among these, two modest yet sharp‑tongued burlesques emerged, lampooning Chesterfield’s polished advice with a blend of humor and caricature.

These poems, titled “The Graces” and “The Fine Gentleman’s Etiquette,” take the listener inside the witty, rapid‑fire rhyming attacks that circulated in coffee‑houses and periodicals. Their playful verses poke fun at the pretensions of genteel conduct, offering a snapshot of the cultural anxieties and literary rivalries of the 1770s. Though they never achieved lasting fame, hearing them now provides a lively window into the satire and social commentary that animated the Augustan age.