Autobiographical Works (eBook)

Henry David Thoreau, born on July 12, 1817, in Concord, Massachusetts, stands as a towering figure in American literature and philosophy. A graduate of Harvard University, Thoreau sought to live a life of simplicity and self-sufficiency which he famously chronicled in 'Walden; or, Life in the Woods', published in 1854. Thoreau's contributions to autobiographical literature, notably in works such as 'Walden', paint a reflective and critical vision of society and individual existence. His ruminative prose straddles the fine line between enviable isolation and social critique, offering a stirring contemplation on the human experience and our interface with the natural world. Thoreau's writing is characteristic of the Transcendentalist movement, which espoused a close relationship with nature and an emphasis on personal intuition over societal conformity. His advocacy for civil liberties and staunch opposition to slavery manifested in lesser-known essays such as 'Civil Disobedience' which influenced global leaders, from Gandhi to Martin Luther King Jr. Thoreau passed away on May 6, 1862, but his literary and philosophical legacy endures, encouraging readers to chart a course towards a deliberate life imbued with purpose and attunement to the natural environment.