The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Holmes, Oliver Wendell, 1809-1894

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource : multiple file formats

Place of Publication:

Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg,

Summary:

"The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table" by Oliver Wendell Holmes is a philosophical and comedic collection of essays written during the mid-19th century. The book is presented as a series of delightful dinner-table conversations, primarily featuring an engaging narrator whose reflections touch on a variety of topics including human nature, society, and the art of conversation itself. Holmes utilizes wit and keen observation to explore intellectual thoughts, social dynamics, and the quirks of humanity amidst the everyday setting of a boarding house. The opening of the book introduces the narrator, possibly a representation of Holmes himself, who reflects on conversations that revolve around classification of minds and the nature of discussion. It features a lively dialogue among the boarders, including a divinity student and an old gentleman, which reveals the eccentricities of their personalities and the humorous dynamics at play. The narrator elaborates on the concept of "Mutual Admiration Societies" among intellectuals, humorously critiquing how public perceptions influence the admiration of men of talent. Through detailed observations, the protagonist's light-hearted yet insightful comments set the stage for a blending of humor, philosophy, and social commentary that characterizes the rest of the work. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Credits:

Transcribed from the 1873 James R. Osgood and Company edition by David Price

Notes:

Reading ease score: 65.3 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read.

Wikipedia page about this book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Autocrat_of_the_Breakfast-Table

Release date is 1996-12-01