Autobiography of a Pocket-Handkerchief

James Fenimore Cooper is best known for his frontier and adventure novels such as The Last of the Mohicans and The Leatherstocking Tales. Autobiography of a Pocket-Handkerchief however is quite different in tone and style. The novella is a satirical work that presents the first-person narrative of a pocket-handkerchief which is anthropomorphized to tell its own life story. The handkerchief recounts its experiences as it changes hands and witnesses various events in 19th-century Europe including encounters with different characters and societal customs. Through the perspective of the pocket-handkerchief Cooper offers a humorous and critical commentary on European society culture and class distinctions of the time. The story is a satire on the frivolous and sometimes absurd aspects of aristocratic European life. Autobiography of a Pocket-Handkerchief is an unusual departure from Cooper''s more well-known works as it is a light-hearted and satirical piece that pokes fun at the social norms and pretensions of the European elite. It is a lesser-known work but is appreciated for its wit and social commentary.