Terrible Tractoration, and Other Poems

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Fessenden, Thomas Green, 1771-1837

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource : multiple file formats

Place of Publication:

Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg,

Summary:

"Terrible Tractoration, and Other Poems" by Thomas Green Fessenden is a satirical collection of poetry that was likely written in the early 19th century. The book centers around a character named Dr. Christopher Caustic, an eccentric and ambitious physician who seeks recognition for his grand scientific inventions and theories. Through humorous and ironic verse, the poetry critiques various contemporary medical practices, particularly the controversial use of metallic tractors, which were promoted as a cure for diseases but were viewed with skepticism by many. The beginning of the work introduces us to Dr. Caustic, who laments his fallen fortunes as he navigates the trials of being a poet and a scientist in a world that seems to value superficial cures over genuine medical knowledge. He reflects on his past successes and the financial struggles that have led him to turn to poetry to make a living. This opening sets the stage for Caustic's various rants and proclamations regarding the absurdities of contemporary medicine and society, while simultaneously establishing his character as both a visionary and a figure of mockery within the realm of medical science. The tone is playful yet critical, inviting readers to explore a world of folly and irony through humorous verse. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Credits:

deaurider, Karin Spence and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)

Notes:

Also published under title: "The modern philosopher, or Terrible tractoration".

Reading ease score: 61.4 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read.

Release date is 2021-04-12