A Pickle for the Knowing Ones

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

43453

Title

A Pickle for the Knowing Ones

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A satirical portrait of Timothy Dexter, a wealthy but eccentric Newburyport merchant who built a mansion filled with statues and claimed the title 'Lord Dexter.' This collection of his writings captures his inordinate vanity, erratic temper, and unique philosophical musings on society, religion, and nature, offering a humorous yet poignant look at a man who sought distinction above all else.

Summary up to 500 words

A Pickle for the Knowing Ones presents the eccentric life and writings of Timothy Dexter, a wealthy merchant in early 19th-century Newburyport, Massachusetts. Born in 1747, Dexter amassed a fortune through leather trading and commercial speculation, including successful investments in whalebone and warming pans. Driven by an inordinate desire for distinction, he transformed his home into a spectacle, erecting forty to fifty wooden statues in his garden, including figures of American presidents and European leaders, and adorning his house with minarets and a golden eagle. He adopted the title 'Lord Dexter' and employed a former apprentice, Jonathan Plumer, as his 'poet laureate.' Dexter's personality was as volatile as his ambitions. He was irascible, prone to drunken revels that ruined his expensive furniture, and often clashed with neighbors and authorities. His domestic life was fraught with conflict; he separated from his wife for thirteen years, blaming his son, and his daughter eventually suffered from neglect and intemperance. Despite his wealth, he was not happy, preparing a mock funeral before his actual death in 1806. His writings, included in this volume, range from bombastic declarations of his greatness to bizarre philosophical theories about the world being a living creature and the soul being a bubble. He also penned satirical pieces, including a mock sermon defending thieves and a letter complaining about local disorder. The book serves as a curious historical document, preserving the whimsical excesses and tragic flaws of a man who truly believed he was a philosopher and a lord, leaving behind a legacy of eccentricity that outlived him.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Classics
• Biography