[Gutenberg 2329] • Autobiography of a Pocket-Handkerchief

In this rare and unusual text, a pocket handkerchief tells its story—from flax field to its creation in Paris, and on to respectable Manhattan society. After passing through many hands, it is finally reunited with its original maker. Significant for its surprising narrative voice and its exploration of French and American cultures, this delightfully quirky satire was Cooper's first proper attempt at magazine writing. James Fenimore Cooper was one of the most popular writers of early 19th-century America. Best known for his historical romances and tales of life on the frontier, Last of the Mohicans is considered to be his masterpiece.