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The Monikins
The narrative unfolds under the guise of an eccentric philosophical exploration, intertwining social commentary and personal histories.
"The Monikins" by James Fenimore Cooper is a satirical novel. The narrative unfolds under the guise of an eccentric philosophical exploration, intertwining social commentary and personal histories.
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Read a passage
Although my ancestor was much too wise to refuse to look back upon his origin in a worldly point of view, he never threw his retrospective glances so far as to reach the sublime mystery of his moral existence; and while his thoughts might be said to be ever on the stretch to attain glimpses into the future, they were by far too earthly to extend beyond any other settling day than those which were regulated by the ordinances of the stock exchange. With him, to be born was but the commencement of a speculation, and to die was to determine the general balance of profit and loss. A man who had so rarely meditated on the grave changes of mortality, therefore, was consequently so much the less prepared to gaze upon the visible solemnities of a death-bed. Although he had never truly loved my mother, for love was a sentiment much too pure and elevated for one whose imagination dwelt habitually on the beauties of the stock-books, he had ever been kind to her, and of late he was even much disposed, as has already been stated, to contribute as much to her temporal comforts as comported with his pursuits and habits. On the other hand, the quiet temperament of my mother required some more exciting cause than the affections of her husband, to quicken those germs of deep, placid, womanly love, that certainly lay dormant in her heart, like seed withering with the ungenial cold of winter. The last meeting of such a pair was not likely to be attended with any violent outpourings of grief.
Contents
- 01Introduction.
- 02The Monikins.
- 03Chapter I. The Author’s Pedigree,—Also That of His Father.
- 04Chapter II. Touching Myself and Ten Thousand Pounds.
- 05Chapter III. Opinions of Our Author’s Ancestor, Together with Some of His Own, and Some of Other People’s.
- 06Chapter IV. Showing the Ups and Downs, the Hopes and Fears, and the Vagaries of Love, Some Views of Death, and an Account of an Inheritance.
- 07Chapter V. About the Social-Stake System, the Dangers of Concentration, and Other Moral and Immoral Curiosities.
- 08Chapter VI. A Theory of Palpable Sublimity—Some Practical Ideas, and the Commencement of Adventures.
- 09Chapter VII. Touching an Amphibious Animal, a Special Introduction, and Its Consequences.
- 10Chapter VIII. An Introduction to Four New Characters, Some Touches of Philosophy, and a Few Capital Thoughts on Political Economy.
- 11Chapter IX. The Commencement of Wonders, Which Are the More Extraordinary on Account of Their Truth.
- 12Chapter X. A Great Deal of Negotiation, in Which Human Shrewdness Is Completely Shamed, and Human Ingenuity Is Shown to Be of a Very Secondary Quality.
- 13Chapter XI. A Philosophy That Is Bottomed on Something Substantial—Some Reasons Plainly Presented, and Cavilling Objections Put to Flight by a Charge of Logical Bayonets.
- 14Chapter XII. Better and Better—A Higher Flight of Reason—More Obvious Truths, Deeper Philosophy, and Facts That Even an Ostrich Might Digest.
- 15Chapter XIII. A Chapter of Preparations—Discrimination in Character—A Tight Fit, and Other Conveniences, with Some Judgment.
- 16Chapter XIV. How to Steer Small—How to Run the Gauntlet with a Ship—How to Go Clear—A New-Fashioned Screw—Dock, and Certain Mile-Stones.
- 17Chapter XV. An Arrival—Forms of Reception—Several New Christenings—An Official Document, Nd Terra Firma.
- 18Chapter XVI. An Inn—Debts Paid in Advance, and a Singular Touch of Human Nature Found Closely Incorporated with Monikin Nature
- 19Chapter XVII. New Lords, New Laws—Gyration, Rotation, and Another Nation; Also an Invitation.
- 20Chapter XVIII. A Court, a Court-Dress, and a Courtier—Justice in Various Aspects, as Well as Honor.
- 21Chapter XIX. About the Humility of Professional Saints, a Succession of Tails, a Bride and Bridegroom, and Other Heavenly Matters, Diplomacy Included.
- 22Chapter XX. A Very Common Case: Or a Great Deal of Law, and Very Little Justice—Heads and Tails, with the Dangers of Each.
- 23Chapter XXI. Better and Better—More Law and More Justice—Tails and Heads: The Importance of Keeping Each in Its Proper Place.
- 24Chapter XXII. A Neophyte in Diplomacy—Diplomatic Introduction—A Calculation—A Shipment of Opinions—How to Choose an Invoice, with an Assortment.
- 25Chapter XXIII. Political Boundaries—Political Rights—Political Selections, and Political Disquisitions; with Political Results.
- 26Chapter XXIV. An Arrival—An Election—Architecture—A Rolling-Pin, and Patriotism of the Most Approved Water.
- 27Chapter XXV. A Fundamental Principle, a Fundamental Law, and a Fundamental Error.
- 28Chapter XXVI. How to Enact Laws—Oratory, Logic, and Eloquence; All Considered in Their Every-Day Aspects.
- 29Chapter XXVII. An Effect of Logarithms on Morals—An Obscuration, a Dissertation, and a Calculation.
- 30Chapter XXVIII. The Importance of Motives to a Legislator—Moral Consecutiveness, Comets, Kites, and a Convoy; with Some Every-Day Legislation; Together with Cause and Effect.
- 31Chapter XXIX. Some Explanations—A Human Appetite—A Dinner and a Bonne Bouche.
- 32Chapter XXX. Explanations—A Leave-Taking—Love—Confessions, but No Penitence.
About this edition
- Author
- James Fenimore Cooper
- Language
- English
- Era
- Modern (c. 1800–1945)
- Reading level
- Advanced: for close, demanding reading
- Formats
- EPUB, PDF
- Length
- 388 pages
- This edition
- Modern Philosophers
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