Originally published in 1817, "Melincourt" is the second novel of Thomas Love Peacock. The story revolves around a civilised ourang-outang known as Sir Oran Haut-ton, mimicking humanity. Sir Oran is elected Member of Parliament for the rotten borough of Onevote and finds himself completely at home in London society. Thomas Love Peacock (18 October 1785 - 23 January 1866) was an English poet, novelist, and important figure in the East India Company. A good friend of Percy Bysshe Shelley, they both had a significant influence on each other's work. Peacock was most famous for writing satirical novels, which usually involved characters sat around a table discussing contemporary philosophical ideas. Other notable works by this author include: "Headlong Hall" (1815), "Melincourt" (1817), and "Nightmare Abbey" (1818). This volume is here republished in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially-commissioned new biography of the author.