The Collected Works of Henry David Thoreau (eBook)

Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862) was an American essayist, poet, philosopher, abolitionist, naturalist, tax resister, development critic, surveyor, and historian. A leading transcendentalist, Thoreau is best known for his book 'Walden,' a reflection upon simple living in natural surroundings, and his essay 'Civil Disobedience,' an argument for disobedience to an unjust state. Thoreau's philosophy of civil disobedience would later influence global figures such as Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. 'The Collected Works of Henry David Thoreau' brings together Thoreau's most significant works, including 'Walden,' 'A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers,' 'The Maine Woods,' 'Cape Cod,' and 'Civil Disobedience.' His literary style combined clarity, precision, and a poetic sensibility with philosophical contemplation. His work is characterized by its eloquent proses, its rich detail, and its deep reverence for nature. Thoreau's commitment to individualism and self-reliance was a manifestation of his transcendentalist ideals, reflecting an underlying belief in the inherent goodness of people and nature, which he believed was corrupted by the pressures and expectations of society. Through 'The Collected Works of Henry David Thoreau,' one can explore the breadth of Thoreau's thought and its lasting impact on American literature and philosophy.