
This eBook was produced by David Widger
BOOK SIXTH. - INITIAL CHAPTER. - WHEREIN MR. CAXTON IS PROFOUNDLY METAPHYSICAL.
CHAPTER II.
CHAPTER III.
CHAPTER IV.
CHAPTER V.
CHAPTER VI.
CHAPTER VII.
CHAPTER VIII.
CHAPTER IX.
A contemplative tale unfolds as a charismatic patriarch launches a lively debate on what it means to live fully. He likens a person’s “integral” life—private, whole, and untouched—to a sealed vault of value, while the “fractional” life is the portion shared with family, friends, and society, constantly divided and re‑valued. Through witty exchanges with a skeptical captain and a curious scholar, the narrative explores how fame, duty, and everyday responsibilities reshape our sense of worth.
Set against a backdrop of quirky characters—Kitty, Pisistratus, and a host of colorful acquaintances—the story invites listeners to examine their own balance between solitude and connection. As the philosophical discourse deepens, the protagonist’s musings hint at broader questions about ambition, legacy, and the true measure of a life well‑lived, promising a thoughtful yet entertaining journey through the human condition.
Language
en
Duration
~3 hours (176K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
Mar 1, 2005
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1803–1873
A bestselling Victorian novelist and politician, he mixed society satire, historical fiction, and supernatural intrigue in books that captivated 19th-century readers. He is still widely remembered for coining famous lines including “the pen is mightier than the sword” and the much-parodied opening “It was a dark and stormy night.”
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