Henry David Thoreau Livres

En plein XIXe siècle, dans le pays qui est en passe de devenir le plus industrialisé du monde, Thoreau tourne le dos à la civilisation et s'installe seul, dans les bois, à un mille de tout voisinage, dans une cabane qu'il a construite lui-même, au bord de l'étang de Walden, Massachusetts. Il ne doit plus sa vie qu'au travail de ses mains. C'est là qu'il commence à écrire Walden, grand classique de la littérature américaine, hymne épicurien, souvent loufoque, à la nature, aux saisons, aux plantes et aux bêtes, toutes choses et tous êtres qui ne sont, selon les propres dires de Thoreau, que «l'envers de ce qui est au-dedans de nous».

" Quand j'écrivis les pages suivantes, ou plutôt en écrivis le principal, je vivais seul, dans les bois, à un mille de tout voisinage, en une maison que j'avais bâtie moi-même, au bord de l'Etang de Walden, à Concord, Massachusetts, et ne devais ma vie qu'au travail de mes mains. J'habitai là deux ans et deux mois. A présent me voici pour une fois encore de passage dans le monde civilisé. "

Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

The collection features a variety of Thoreau's writings that reflect his profound connection to nature and his philosophies on life. Works like "Walking," "Walden," and "Civil Disobedience" showcase his ability to inspire readers to appreciate the natural world and contemplate their place within it. Through his vivid prose, Thoreau encourages a deeper awareness of the environment and advocates for personal and societal reflection.

The Journal captures Thoreau's evolution from a conventional writer to a profound observer of nature and self. In Journal 5, covering spring 1852 to winter 1853, he meticulously records natural phenomena while exploring the deep connections between himself and the environment. This edition presents the text without editorial interference, highlighting Thoreau's blend of scientific inquiry and spiritual reflection. The year culminates with his contemplation of joining the Association for the Advancement of Science, which he ultimately declines to focus on his personal studies.

Henry David Thoreau’s Journal was his life’s work: the daily practice of writing that accompanied his daily walks, the workshop where he developed his books and essays, and a project in its own right—one of the most intensive explorations ever made of the everyday environment, the revolving seasons, and the changing self. It is a treasure trove of some of the finest prose in English and, for those acquainted with it, its prismatic pages exercise a hypnotic fascination. Yet at roughly seven thousand pages, or two million words, it remains Thoreau’s least-known work. This reader’s edition, the largest one-volume edition of Thoreau’s Journal ever published, is the first to capture the scope, rhythms, and variety of the work as a whole. Ranging freely over the world at large, the Journal is no less devoted to the life within. As Thoreau says, “It is in vain to write on the seasons unless you have the seasons in you.”

Exploring the theme of education, this collection unifies Thoreau's insights on learning and knowledge. It emphasizes the transformative power of forgetting conventional teachings to foster true understanding. By compiling his thoughts, the book offers a comprehensive look at Thoreau's unique approach to education, highlighting his belief in the importance of experiential learning and self-discovery.

"As Laura Dassow Walls writes in her foreword, "Thoreau's notion of living in season sets the keynote for this collection. These quotes invite us to pay full attention to each moment as it passes, with all our senses, taste and touch and smell as well as sight and hearing-to attend to the phenomenology of the great cycles of growth, decay and renewal. This slender volume thus embodies, in small compass, Thoreau's own ambition to write "a book of the seasons, each page of which should be written in its own season and out-of-doors." The book provides daily glimpses into the insight, quirkiness and brilliance of Thoreau"-- Provided by publisher

A classic book of nature photography, this large-format volume is designed to convey the spirit of American nature as so sensitively described by Thoreau. Eliot Porter, one of America's foremost nature photographers, blends short excerpts from Thoreau's Walden and many other works with 72 full-color photographs that perfectly reproduce the writer's sense of quiet drama.

Recognized for its cultural significance, this work contributes to the foundational knowledge of civilization. It has been carefully chosen by scholars for its importance, reflecting key themes and insights that have shaped human understanding and society.