| Author |
Holmes, Oliver Wendell, 1809-1894 |
| Title |
The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table
|
| Note |
Reading ease score: 65.3 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read.
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| Credits |
Transcribed from the 1873 James R. Osgood and Company edition by David Price
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| 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.)
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| Language |
English |
| LoC Class |
PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature
|
| Subject |
Poetry
|
| Subject |
American fiction -- 19th century
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| Subject |
Conversation -- Fiction
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| Subject |
Boardinghouses -- Fiction
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| Category |
Text |
| EBook-No. |
751 |
| Release Date |
Dec 1, 1996 |
| Most Recently Updated |
Dec 29, 2014 |
| Copyright Status |
Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads |
612 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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