The Gentlemen's Book of Etiquette and Manual of Politeness

This book provides rules for the etiquette to be observed in the street, at table, in the ball room, evening party, and morning call; with full directions for polite or respondence, dress, conversation, manly exercises, and accomplishments. Man was not intended to live like a bear or a hermit, apart from others of his own nature, and, philosophy and reason will each agree with me, that man was born for sociability and finds his true delight in society. Society is a word capable of many meanings, and used here in each and all of them. Society, par excellence; the world at large; the little clique to which he is bound by early ties; the companionship of friends or relatives; even society tete a tete with one dear sympathizing soul, are pleasant states for a man to be in. All in all this is a great book on etiquette. A great place to learn the rules of etiquette.

Cecil B. Hartley was a nineteenth-century American author, editor, and compiler best known for producing practical manuals, historical works, and collections of advice intended for a broad readership. Although relatively little is known about the details of his personal life, his books enjoyed considerable popularity during the Victorian era and reflected the growing public demand for practical knowledge, self-improvement, and accessible history. Through his clear and engaging writing style, Hartley helped make useful information available to ordinary readers, earning a respected place among the educational writers of his time.

Hartley wrote during a period when books on etiquette, outdoor skills, travel, and personal conduct were widely read in the United States. Rather than focusing on fiction, he devoted much of his career to compiling knowledge that readers could apply in everyday life. His works were designed to educate as well as entertain, combining practical instruction with historical anecdotes and moral guidance. This approach made his books especially appealing to families, young readers, and those seeking to improve their understanding of the world around them.

Among his best-known publications are The Gentleman’s Book of Etiquette, The Ladies’ Book of Etiquette, Life of Daniel Boone, Life of Kit Carson, and Life of Lewis Wetzel. He also authored The Book of Household Management, The Camp-Fire Companion, and several other manuals covering outdoor survival, frontier life, and personal conduct. His biographies of famous American pioneers introduced readers to the adventures and hardships of early frontier exploration, while his etiquette books offered advice on manners, conversation, hospitality, and social responsibility. Although some of his social guidance reflects the customs and values of the nineteenth century, his emphasis on courtesy, honesty, and respectful behavior continues to hold historical interest.

Like many editors and compilers of his era, Hartley often drew upon earlier historical accounts and contemporary sources to create readable volumes for general audiences. As a result, modern historians sometimes distinguish between his engaging narratives and more recent scholarly research. Nevertheless, his books remain valuable for understanding nineteenth-century attitudes toward education, character, and American history.

Though the personal details of Cecil B. Hartley's life remain largely undocumented, his literary contributions have endured through the continued publication of his works. Today, he is remembered as a prolific writer and compiler whose practical manuals and historical biographies introduced generations of readers to lessons in etiquette, leadership, frontier adventure, and everyday wisdom.