
audiobook
Produced by David Widger and Several Other Project Gutenberg Volunteers
THE ENTIRE PROJECT GUTENBERG WORKS OF OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES, SR.
THE AUTOCRAT OF THE BREAKFAST-TABLE - THE AUTOCRAT'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY
THE PROFESSOR AT THE BREAKFAST TABLE
PREFACE TO THE NEW EDITION
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A lively assortment of 19th‑century prose invites listeners to sit at a virtual breakfast table where wit, curiosity, and gentle satire mingle. The collection opens with the beloved “Autocrat” essays, offering conversational musings that feel like a friend sharing stories over coffee, and moves quickly into short tales such as the eerie “Elsie Venner” and the reflective “The Guardian Angel.” Interspersed are poems, lighthearted sketches, and a handful of travel reminiscences that reveal a keen eye for everyday marvels.
Beyond fiction, the volume presents Holmes’s pioneering medical essays, from critiques of homeopathy to observations on contagion, showcasing a mind that blended scientific rigor with literary flair. Memoirs of contemporaries like Emerson add a personal touch, while the author’s own reflections on learning and teaching create a warm, approachable atmosphere. Listeners will appreciate the subtle humor and thoughtful insight that make each piece feel both timeless and inviting.
Language
en
Duration
~111 hours (6396K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2004-10-20
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1809–1894
Remembered as both a celebrated man of letters and a working doctor, this Boston writer brought wit, warmth, and sharp observation to poetry and essays that were widely loved in 19th-century America. He is especially known for “Old Ironsides” and the lively “Breakfast-Table” books.
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by Oliver Wendell Holmes