Peacock, Thomas Love 1785-1866 creator Saintsbury, George 1845-1933 Townsend, F. H. (Frederick Henry) 1868-1920 text utu 2025 monographic en 1 online resource : multiple file formats "Melincourt: or, Sir Oran Haut-Ton" by Thomas Love Peacock is a satirical novel written in the early 19th century. The story appears to focus on the adventures and social situations surrounding the young heiress Anthelia Melincourt, as well as the philosophical and political commentaries delivered through an eccentric cast, including the enigmatic Sir Oran Haut-Ton—an orangutan presented as the “natural man.” The novel blends romantic intrigue and comedic elements with sharp criticism of social customs, politics, and contemporary intellectual debates, often caricaturing prominent public figures and issues such as political corruption and the abolition of slavery. Peacock’s work is known for its witty dialogue, biting irony, and its playful approach to the conventions of both the novel and society. The opening of the book, including its introduction and the first chapters, sets the stage by introducing Anthelia Melincourt—wealthy, orphaned, and independent—living secluded in a grand, half-ruined castle amid the wilds of Westmoreland. She is pursued by various fortune-hunting suitors, with comic attention given to the superficiality and scheming of fashionable society. Early scenes emphasize Anthelia’s romantic idealism, her education amidst nature, and her skeptical view of marriage based solely on status or wealth. The narrative then shifts to a cast of eccentric and often satirical characters: Sir Telegraph Paxarett, the worldly bachelor; Sylvan Forester, the philosophical reformer; the taciturn “natural man” Sir Oran Haut-Ton, and various others representing types of social and ideological affectation. Through lively dinner conversations and comedic social clashes—often centering on earnest, if quixotic, ideas about moral reform or the rights of man—Peacock begins to weave his critiques of society, politics, philosophy, and human nature, setting up a narrative driven as much by spirited debate as by plot. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Wikipedia page about this book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melincourt_(novel) Release date is 2025-04-23 Richard Tonsing, Tim Lindell, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) Originally published: London: Macmillan and Co., 1896 Satire English fiction -- 19th century Orangutans -- Fiction PR London: Macmillan and Co., 1896 07033747 https://archive.org/details/melincourtorsiro00peacuoft/page/n9/mode/2up https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/75943 https://archive.org/details/melincourtorsiro00peacuoft/page/n9/mode/2up https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/75943 UtSlPG 260607 20260610134746.0 75943