thomas carlyle

Sartor Resartus

First published 1833–34
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contents

Book I

i
Chapter 1. Preliminary.
Considering our present advanced state of culture, and how the Torch of Science has now been brandished and borne about, with more or less…
ii
Chapter 2. Editorial Difficulties.
If for a speculative man, "whose seedfield," in the sublime words of the Poet, "is Time," no conquest is important but that of new ideas,…
iii
Chapter 3. Reminiscences.
To the Author's private circle the appearance of this singular Work on Clothes must have occasioned little less surprise than it has to the…
iv
Chapter 4. Characteristics.
It were a piece of vain flattery to pretend that this Work on Clothes entirely contents us; that it is not, like all works of genius, like…
v
Chapter 5. The World in Clothes.
"As Montesquieu wrote a Spirit of Laws," observes our Professor, "so could I write a Spirit of Clothes; thus, with an Esprit des Lois,…
vi
Chapter 6. Aprons.
One of the most unsatisfactory Sections in the whole Volume is that on Aprons. What though stout old Gao, the Persian Blacksmith, "whose…
vii
Chapter 7. Miscellaneous-Historical.
Happier is our Professor, and more purely scientific and historic, when he reaches the Middle Ages in Europe, and down to the end of the…
viii
Chapter 8. The World Out of Clothes.
If in the Descriptive-Historical portion of this Volume, Teufelsdrockh, discussing merely the Werden (Origin and successive Improvement) of…
ix
Chapter 9. Adamitism.
Let no courteous reader take offence at the opinions broached in the conclusion of the last Chapter. The Editor himself, on first glancing…
x
Chapter 10. Pure Reason.
It must now be apparent enough that our Professor, as above hinted, is a speculative Radical, and of the very darkest tinge; acknowledging,…
xi
Chapter 11. Prospective.
The Philosophy of Clothes is now to all readers, as we predicted it would do, unfolding itself into new boundless expansions, of a…

Book II

xii
Chapter 1. Genesis.
In a psychological point of view, it is perhaps questionable whether from birth and genealogy, how closely scrutinized soever, much insight…
xiii
Chapter 2. Idyllic.
"HAPPY season of Childhood!" exclaims Teufelsdrockh: "Kind Nature, that art to all a bountiful mother; that visitest the poor man's hut…
xiv
Chapter 3. Pedagogy.
Hitherto we see young Gneschen, in his indivisible case of yellow serge, borne forward mostly on the arms of kind Nature alone; seated,…
xv
Chapter 4. Getting Under Way.
"Thus nevertheless," writes our Autobiographer, apparently as quitting College, "was there realized Somewhat; namely, I, Diogenes…
xvi
Chapter 5. Romance.
"For long years," writes Teufelsdrockh, "had the poor Hebrew, in this Egypt of an Auscultatorship, painfully toiled, baking bricks without…
xvii
Chapter 6. Sorrows of Teufelsdrockh
We have long felt that, with a man like our Professor, matters must often be expected to take a course of their own; that in so multiplex,…
xviii
Chapter 7. The Everlasting No.
Under the strange nebulous envelopment, wherein our Professor has now shrouded himself, no doubt but his spiritual nature is nevertheless…
xix
Chapter 8. Center of Indifference.
Though, after this "Baphometic Fire-baptism" of his, our Wanderer signifies that his Unrest was but increased; as, indeed, "Indignation and…
xx
Chapter 9. The Everlasting Yea.
"Temptations in the Wilderness!" exclaims Teufelsdrockh, "Have we not all to be tried with such? Not so easily can the old Adam, lodged in…
xxi
Chapter 10. Pause.
Thus have we, as closely and perhaps satisfactorily as, in such circumstances, might be, followed Teufelsdrockh, through the various…

Book III

xxii
Chapter 1. Incident in Modern History.
As a wonder-loving and wonder-seeking man, Teufelsdrockh, from an early part of this Clothes-Volume, has more and more exhibited himself.…
xxiii
Chapter 2. Church-Clothes.
Not less questionable is his Chapter on Church-Clothes, which has the farther distinction of being the shortest in the Volume. We here…
xxiv
Chapter 3. Symbols.
Probably it will elucidate the drift of these foregoing obscure utterances, if we here insert somewhat of our Professor's speculations on…
xxv
Chapter 4. Helotage.
At this point we determine on adverting shortly, or rather reverting, to a certain Tract of Hofrath Heuschrecke's, entitled Institute for…
xxvi
Chapter 5. The Phoenix.
Putting which four singular Chapters together, and alongside of them numerous hints, and even direct utterances, scattered over these…
xxvii
Chapter 6. Old Clothes.
As mentioned above, Teufelsdrockh, though a Sansculottist, is in practice probably the politest man extant: his whole heart and life are…
xxviii
Chapter 7. Organic Filaments.
For us, who happen to live while the World-Phoenix is burning herself, and burning so slowly that, as Teufelsdrockh calculates, it were a…
xxix
Chapter 8. Natural Supernaturalism.
It is in his stupendous Section, headed Natural Supernaturalism, that the Professor first becomes a Seer; and, after long effort, such as…
xxx
Chapter 9. Circumspective.
Here, then, arises the so momentous question: Have many British Readers actually arrived with us at the new promised country; is the…
xxxi
Chapter 10. The Dandiacal Body.
First, touching Dandies, let us consider, with some scientific strictness, what a Dandy specially is. A Dandy is a Clothes-wearing Man, a…
xxxii
Chapter 11. Tailors.
Thus, however, has our first Practical Inference from the Clothes-Philosophy, that which respects Dandies, been sufficiently drawn; and we…
xxxiii
Chapter 12. Farewell.
So have we endeavored, from the enormous, amorphous Plum-pudding, more like a Scottish Haggis, which Herr Teufelsdrockh had kneaded for his…
xxxiv
Appendix
This questionable little Book was undoubtedly written among the mountain solitudes, in 1831; but, owing to impediments natural and…