Autobiography of a Pocket-Handkerchief

Name: Autobiography of a Pocket-Handkerchief
Author: James Fenimore Cooper

By James Fenimore Cooper

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American Literature Novels

About This Book

An embroidered pocket-handkerchief narrates its origins from flax in an American valley, its manufacture and journey across Europe, and the social lives of the people who possess it. Through the object's perspective the narrative follows a young woman's misfortunes abroad, satirizes social climbing and mercenary courtship at home, and criticizes commercial exploitation and cultural pretensions. The handkerchief's keen observations link domestic detail to broader questions of taste, class, and national manners while tracing changing loyalties and moral judgments among its owners.

About the Author

James Fenimore Cooper

James Fenimore Cooper (1789-1851) was an American novelist known for his historical fiction set in the early American frontier. He is often credited with popularizing the genre of the American novel and is best remembered for his series of novels featuring Natty Bumppo, a character that embodies the spirit of the American wilderness. His notable works include "The Last of the Mohicans," which explores themes of conflict and coexistence between Native Americans and European settlers. Cooper's writing often reflects his deep interest in the natural world and the complexities of American identity, making him a significant figure in American literary heritage.