Henry David Thoreau

Author: Mayersen
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2000-12-01
Features: This book is part of the "Cambridge Literary Guides" series, edited by Professor Joel Myerson, the chair of the Thoreau Society. It includes new research findings on Thoreau by scholars from the West and Europe. The book is divided into 13 chapters, such as "Thoreau and Concord" and "Thoreau and Emerson," each a relatively independent thematic study. It covers both a review of Thoreau's life and creative career, as well as specialized discussions of his major works, each with a distinct focus. For example, when Professor Richard J. Schneider explains Thoreau's most important and most familiar work, Walden, he focuses on analyzing the author's linguistic techniques; while Professor Linck C. Johnson, when analyzing the relatively less-known A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers, takes Thoreau's writing motivations as the starting point to explore how to classify it literary. The book includes both classic topics in Thoreau studies, such as discussions on civil disobedience, comparisons between Thoreau and Emerson, and the symbolic meaning of Walden, as well as new perspectives in recent years, such as Thoreau's status as a pioneer of environmentalism. In short, the book covers many aspects of Thoreau's life, works, and influence, making it a comprehensive work in the field of Thoreau research.