The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table
- First published
- 1858
- Reading level
- Plain English
- Price
- Free
About the book
"The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table" by Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. is a collection of essays published in 1858. Originally appearing in The Atlantic Monthly, these essays present one-sided conversations between an unnamed author and fellow residents of a New England boarding house. Topics range from aging and dwelling placement to the nature of conversation itself, delivered in a distinctly Yankee, seriocomic tone. Each essay typically concludes with a poem reflecting its themes, blending philosophy, humor, and verse into America's literary breakfast tradition.
- Poetry
- American fiction
- Conversation
- Boardinghouses
Updated September 2026. Public domain in the USA. Text and summary from Project Gutenberg eBook #751. The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table on Wikipedia.
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