New Perspectives on Walden - New Perspectives on American Fiction, Cambridge. 12 (English facsimile edition)

Author: Robert F. Sell
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2007-01-01
Features: Walden Revisited offers critical essays on Thoreau's classic novel from four important contemporary perspectives. Lawrence Buell discusses the publishing decisions of Houghton Mifflin at the turn of the century (Thoreau's publisher), as well as how early Thoreauvians, literary critics, and reviewers helped propel Walden into the status of a classic. Writer and ecologist Anne LaBastille contributes her review of Walden. Daniel P.ke examines how the pastoralism in Walden not only encompasses the forces of industrialism and commerce in American society but also the spiritual strength within Thoreau's inner life. Finally, Michael Fisher reevaluates Walden from the perspective of modern literary theory, finding that Thoreau's fear of revealing and analyzing his political views mitigated his relationship with skeptical critics. In these newly included essays, Robert F. Sell provides readers with an authoritative biography of Thoreau, an account of the writing process of Walden, and a summary of other critics' viewpoints. This book will spark great interest among teachers and students, whether it is their first or their hundredth reading of Thoreau.