Melincourt : or, Sir Oran Haut-Ton by Thomas Love Peacock
QR code
"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.)
Download for free
For your e-reader or reading app — Kindle, Kobo, Apple Books, Calibre etc.
Kindle → Use Send-to-Kindle
- Download the EPUB3 file above
- Upload it on the Amazon site your Kindle is registered with: amazon.com/sendtokindle for the US, amazon.co.uk/sendtokindle for the UK etc.
- It appears on your Kindle and in the Kindle app
Kobo, Nook etc. → Transfer via USB
- Download the EPUB3 file on your computer
- Connect your e-reader by USB and tap "Connect" on its screen
- Drag the file onto the e-reader drive
Phone, Tablet or Computer → Online or Reading App
Easiest: read online in your browser. Nothing to install.
Or use a reading app:
- Find and install one you like, for example Apple Books, ReadEra or Thorium Reader
- Download the EPUB3 file above
- Open it in the app
More help: iPhone / iPad · Android · Computer
Other formats & older devices
There may be more files related to this item.
About this eBook
| Author | Peacock, Thomas Love, 1785-1866 |
|---|---|
| Author of introduction, etc. | Saintsbury, George, 1845-1933 |
| Illustrator | Townsend, F. H. (Frederick Henry), 1868-1920 |
| LoC No. | 07033747 |
| Title | Melincourt : or, Sir Oran Haut-Ton |
| Original Publication | London: Macmillan and Co., 1896. |
| Note | Wikipedia page about this book: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melincourt_(novel) |
| Credits | Richard Tonsing, Tim Lindell, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) |
| Reading Level | Reading ease score: 64.1 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read. |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | PR: Language and Literatures: English literature |
| Subject | Satire |
| Subject | English fiction -- 19th century |
| Subject | Orangutans -- Fiction |
| Category | Text |
| eBook-No. | 75943 |
| ISBN (HTML) | 979-8-238-75943-2 |
| Release Date | Apr 23, 2025 |
| Copyright | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 621 downloads in the last 30 days. |
Project Gutenberg eBooks are always free!