Essays

This new selection of Thoreaus essays traces his trajectory as a writer for the outlets of his daythe periodical press, newspapers, and compendiumsand as a frequent presenter on the local lecture circuit. By arranging the writings chronologically, the volume re-creates the experience of Thoreaus readers as they followed his developing ideas over time. Jeffrey S. Cramer, award-winning editor of six previous volumes of works by Thoreau, offers the most accurate text available for each essay and provides convenient on-page annotations. He establishes context and guides the reader through unfamiliar allusions and references, plumbing the depths of Thoreaus writings with unprecedented insight. Among the essays in this book: The Last Days of John Brown Resistance to Civil Government [Civil Disobedience] Thomas Carlyle and His Works Natural History of Massachusetts and many more