The hero, Professor
Teufelsdroeckh ("Devil's Dirt"), seems to be intended for a portrait
of human nature as affected by the moral influence to which a
cultivated mind would be exposed by the transcendental philosophy of
Fichte. Mr. Carlyle works out his theory--the clothes philosophy--and
finds the world false and hollow, our institutions mere worn-out rags
or disguises, and that our only safety lies in flying from falsehood
to truth, and becoming in harmony with the "divine idea." There is
much fanciful, grotesque description in "Sartor," with deep thought
and beautiful imagery. "In this book," wrote John Sterling, "we always
feel that there is a mystic influence around us, bringing out into
sharp homely clearness what is noblest in the remote and infinite,
exalting into wonder what is commonest in the dust and toil of every
day."
"Sartor" found but few admirers; those readers, however, were firm and
enthusiastic in their applause. In 1838 the "Sartor Resartus" papers,
already republished in the United States, were issued in a collected
form here; and in 1839-1840 his various scattered articles
in periodicals, after having similarly received the honour of
republication in America, were published here, first in four and
afterwards in five volumes, under the title of "Miscellanies.
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