Walden
or, Life in the Woods
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862) was an American naturalist, poet, philosopher, and essayist who played a leading role in the transcendentalist movement. A prolific writer, he produced more than 20 volumes of articles, essays, journals, poetry and books, with his most notable contributions including his work on philosophy and natural history. Arguably his most famous work, “Walden or, Life in the Woods” (1854), it concerns Thoreau's experiences over a period of two years, two months, and two days spent in a cabin near Conrad, Massachusetts. A reflection on simple living in nature, it is partly an exploration of personal freedom, partly a social experiment, and partly a voyage of self-discovery. Highly recommended for fans of nature writing and transcendentalism. Contents include: “Economy”, “Where I Lived, and What I Lived for”, “Reading”, “Sounds”, “Solitude”, “Visitors”, “The Bean-Field”, “The Village”, “The Ponds”, “Baker Farm”, “Higher Laws”, “Brute Neighbors”, “House-Warming”, “Former Inhabitants and Winter Visitors”, etc. Other works by this author include: “The Landlord” (1843), “Sir Walter Raleigh” (1844), and “Herald of Freedom” (1844). A Thousand Fields is republishing this classic book now complete with an Introductory poem by Louisa M. Alcott and a biographical sketch by Ralph Waldo Emerson.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Shrinking Walden into picture book size is somewhat like trying to fit Moby Dick into an aquarium. Still, Lowe's selections from Thoreau's iconoclastic work will give children a brief taste of this classic. Using only quotations from the original work, Lowe tells the story of Thoreau's year in the woods, emphasizing his descriptions of nature,stet comma and action rather than his philosophical musings. Readers see the young Thoreau putting shingles on his roof, hoeing beans, welcoming a stranger; they can revel in the natural wonders he describes--the ``whip-poor-wills,'' in summer, the drifting snow in winter, the ice breaking in the pond in spring. Sabuda's superb linoleum-cut prints lend a hard-edged brilliance to the dark woods--where sunlight is filtered through etched leaves, and moonlight shimmers on the waters of the pond made famous by a young man's experiment with life. All ages.
