An Essay on the Art of Ingeniously Tormenting

It was modelled after Jonathan Swift's satirical essays, and is intended to "teach" a reader the various methods for "teasing and mortifying" one's acquaintances.

[5] A second edition of the Essay was published by Millar in 1757, two years after Collier's death, but with revisions made by her shortly after its first printing.

[7] She begins her work with an actual "Essay on the Art of Tormenting" that serves as an introduction, before dividing the book into two parts.

In this introduction, the narrator claims: "One strong objection, I know, will be made against my whole design, by people of weak consciences; which is, that every rule I shall lay down will be exactly opposite to the doctrine of Christianity.

"[8]Part the First is divided into four sections: "Instructions to Masters and Mistresses, concerning their Servants", "To the Patronesses of an Humble Companion", "To Parents" and "To the Husband".

"[7] Part the Second is divided into four sections: "To Lovers", "To the Wife", "To the Friend" and "To your Good Sort of People; being an appendage to the foregoing chapter".

Henry Fielding complimented Collier on the work by declaring she had "an Understanding more than Female, mixed with virtues almost more than human".

[14] Some critics find it interesting that Collier would "yoke" Richardson with those that he "felt especial antipathy" with: Swift and Fielding.