Sartor Resartus: The Life And Opinions Of Herr Teufelsdrockh (1902)

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Kessinger Publishing, 2009 - Biography & Autobiography - 274 pages
Sartor Resartus is a novel written by the Scottish philosopher and writer Thomas Carlyle. It was first published in 1836 and has since become a classic of English literature. The novel is a satirical commentary on the social and political issues of the time, focusing on the life and opinions of a fictional character named Herr Teufelsdrockh. The novel is presented as a collection of essays, memoirs, and philosophical musings, all compiled by an unnamed editor who claims to have discovered the manuscript of Teufelsdrockh's life story. The editor presents Teufelsdrockh as a German philosopher and clothing theorist who has spent his life studying the nature of reality and the meaning of existence.Throughout the novel, Teufelsdrockh expounds on a wide range of topics, including religion, politics, education, and fashion. He argues that human beings are essentially spiritual beings, and that the material world is merely an illusion. He also critiques the social and political structures of his time, arguing that they are corrupt and in need of reform.Despite its serious subject matter, Sartor Resartus is also a highly entertaining and humorous novel. Carlyle's use of satire and irony adds a playful tone to the work, and his witty commentary on the absurdities of human behavior makes for a highly engaging read.Overall, Sartor Resartus is a thought-provoking and entertaining novel that continues to be widely read and admired today. Its unique blend of philosophy, satire, and humor has made it a classic of English literature and a testament to Carlyle's literary genius.In Three Books.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

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About the author (2009)

Thomas Carlyle was a social critic and historian born in Ecclefechan, Dumfriesshire, Scotland, December 4, 1795, the same year as John Keats, but Carlyle is considered an early Victorian rather than a Romantic. After completing his elementary studies, he went to the University of Edinburgh but left in 1814 without a degree. His parents wanted him to become a minister in the Scottish church, but his independence of spirit made such a life program impossible. In 1816 he fell in love with, and was rejected by, a young woman. His love affair was followed by a period of doubt and uncertainty described vividly in Sartor Resartus, a work published in 1833 that attracted much attention. Carlyle's first literary work reveals his admiration for German thought and philosophy, and especially for the two great German poets Schiller and Goethe. The fictional autobiography of a philosopher deeply impressed Ralph Waldo Emerson who brought it back to the United States to be published there. History of the French Revolution (1837), rewritten after parts of it were mistakenly burned as kindling by John Stuart Mill, cemented Carlyle's reputation. The work brought him fame but no great wealth. As a result of his comparative poverty he was induced to give four series of public lectures. Of these the most famous were those On Heroes, Hero-Worship, and the Heroic of History delivered in 1840 and published in 1841. Past and Present (1843), and Latter Day Pamphlets (1850) present his economic and industrial theories. With The Letters and Speeches of Oliver Cromwell (1845), The Life of John Sterling (1851), and History of Frederick II of Prussia, Called Frederick the Great (1858-1865) he returned to biography. In 1865, Carlyle was made Lord Rector of Edinburgh.

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