Author: OSBORNE (Francis):
Title: Advice to a Son. The Second Part. By Francis Osborn.
Description: London, Printed for Tho. Robinson, 1658. FIRST EDITION. 12mo, 143 x 78 mms., pp. [xii]. 189 [190 - 192 Index], rebound in mid-20th century in cat's paw calf, gilt spine; tightly rebound, with text sometimes disappearing into gutter, slight chips on front joint, but a very good copy with the bookplate of the school master and bookseller Arnold Muirhead on the front paste-down end-paper/ Francis Osborne (1593 - 1659) published the first section of this work in 1756; it was very successful and Osborne produced an improved an a larger edition the same year. "The book's pragmatism and cynicism may have furthered its rapid acceptance. Its frank and practical aim was to guide the reader to material success in a treacherous, self-seeking world. Popular with Oxford scholars, it enjoyed a wide readership outside the university as well.... The tone of worldliness in the Advice contributed to Osborne's reputation for atheism. In 1658, after complaints from local ministers that the Advice 'did instil principles of Atheism into young Gentlemen', a formal complaint was brought to the vice-chancellor and a proposal put forward to have Osborne's books publicly burned ...(ODNB)." It didn't happen, but some of the passages in the work smack of misogyny, and it might not fare so well in today's "cancel culture" environment.

Keywords: courtesy behaviour prose


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