The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table

"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.

The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table, by Oliver Wendell Holmes. Republished by OpenStories from Project Gutenberg eBook #751.