Emerson's Antislavery Writings

This book presents the first comprehensive and authoritative collection of Emersons writings against slavery and the subjugation of American Indianswritings that reveal Emersons deep commitment to social reform. Included are speeches and lectures that have never before been published or collected in any other edition of Emersons writings. "Taken together, this group of writings constitutes a critical mass of evidence that demonstrates Emersons continuous involvement in protest against slavery and other forms of social oppression much more dramatically than has been done before." Lawrence Buell, Harvard University "This valuable collection contains eighteen works by Emerson on the subject of slavery written between 1838 and 1863. . . . The texts are well annotated, and a historical introduction rightly demonstrates Emersons important participation in the abolition movement." Nineteenth-Century Literature "This new volume . . . seeks to put Emersons views on abolitionism in a clearer light while fitting the writings into the larger frame of his philosophy of social reform. . . . A skillfully edited volume . . . [that adds] to a deeper understanding of Emersons thought." Charles Sermon, State