Sartor Resartus

Sartor Resartus first appeared serially in Fraser's Magazine in 1833–34, after being rejected by several publishers. The novel was initially met with confusion and mixed reviews, as its unconventional structure and dense prose puzzled contemporary readers. However, it gained a cult following, particularly in America, where Ralph Waldo Emerson championed it and arranged for its first book publication in 1836. In Britain, a second edition appeared in 1838, and the work gradually earned recognition as a masterpiece of Victorian prose.

The novel's central metaphor is that of clothing as a symbol of social and metaphysical constructs. Carlyle, through Teufelsdröckh, argues that all human institutions, customs, and beliefs are mere 'clothes' that can be altered or discarded. The work introduces the concept of 'Natural Supernaturalism,' which reconciles faith with the material world, and it critiques the mechanization of society during the Industrial Revolution. Carlyle's philosophy, often termed 'Carlylean,' emphasizes the importance of spiritual renewal and the rejection of mere materialism.

Sartor Resartus is celebrated for its innovative narrative technique, which includes a fictional editor who comments on Teufelsdröckh's manuscript, creating a layered, self-referential structure. This approach anticipated modernist techniques and influenced writers such as Herman Melville, Walt Whitman, and later, James Joyce. The book's blend of autobiography, philosophy, and satire also paved the way for the Victorian essay. Its impact extended to political thought, with Carlyle's ideas resonating in the works of social critics like John Ruskin and William Morris.

One of the most intriguing aspects is that the character Teufelsdröckh is partly based on Carlyle himself, drawing from his own spiritual crisis and intellectual development. The novel's title, meaning 'The Tailor Retailored,' is a pun on the tailor as a metaphor for the philosopher who reshapes ideas. Additionally, the book was initially published anonymously, and Carlyle's authorship was not widely known until later. The work also contains cryptic references to German Romanticism and the philosophy of Immanuel Kant, reflecting Carlyle's deep engagement with German thought.

Natural Supernaturalism

A concept introduced by Carlyle that reconciles the spiritual and the material, suggesting that the supernatural is inherent in nature.

Teufelsdröckh

The fictional German philosopher whose biography and philosophy form the core of the novel.

Clothes Philosophy

The central metaphor of the novel, viewing all human institutions and beliefs as 'clothes' that can be changed.