The "Letters..." were first written for Chapone's 15-year-old niece in 1773, but by 1800 it had been through at least 16 editions. A further 12 editions had appeared by 1829, at least one of them a French translation. The letters focused on encouraging rational understanding through the reading of the Bible, history and literature. The girl addressed was also supposed to study book-keeping, household management and botany, geology, astronomy. Only sentimental novels were to be avoided. Mary Wollstonecraft singled it out as one of few examples of the self-improvement genre that deserved praise.