Henry David Thoreau

Walden and On The Duty Of Civil Disobedience (eBook, ePUB)

• Format: ePub

Produktbeschreibung

When I wrote the following pages, or rather the bulk of them, I lived alone, in the woods, a mile from any neighbor, in a house which I had built myself, on the shore of Walden Pond, in Concord, Massachusetts, and earned my living by the labor of my hands only. I lived there two years and two months. At present I am a sojourner in civilized life again.
I should not obtrude my affairs so much on the notice of my readers if very particular inquiries had not been made by my townsmen concerning my mode of life, which some would call impertinent, though they do not appear to me at all impertinent, but, considering the circumstances, very natural and pertinent. Some have asked what I got to eat; if I did not feel lonesome; if I was not afraid; and the like. Others have been curious to learn what portion of my income I devoted to charitable purposes; and some, who have large families, how many poor children I maintained. I will therefore ask those of my readers who feel no particular interest in me to pardon me if I undertake to answer some of these questions in this book. In most books, the I, or first person, is omitted; in this it will be retained; that, in respect to egotism, is the main difference. We commonly do not remember that it is, after all, always the first person that is speaking. I should not talk so much about myself if there were anybody else whom I knew as well. Unfortunately, I am confined to this theme by the narrowness of my experience. Moreover, I, on my side, require of every writer, first or last, a simple and sincere account of his own life, and not merely what he has heard of other men’s lives; some such account as he would send to his kindred from a distant land; for if he has lived sincerely, it must have been in a distant land to me. Perhaps these pages are more particularly addressed to poor students. As for the rest of my readers, they will accept such portions as apply to them. I trust that none will stretch the seams in putting on the coat, for it may do good service to him whom it fits.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: eGriffo
• Erscheinungstermin: 30. September 2019
• Englisch
• ISBN-13: 9788834191781
• Artikelnr.: 59107631

Autorenporträt

Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) was an American philosopher, naturalist, and writer, best known for his book Walden, a reflection on simple living in natural surroundings, and his essay "Civil Disobedience," which argues for individual resistance to civil government in moral opposition to an unjust state. Born in Concord, Massachusetts, Thoreau studied at Harvard University, where he developed interests in literature, philosophy, and the natural world. Upon his return to Concord, he became associated with the Transcendentalist movement, engaging with influential figures like Ralph Waldo Emerson, who became his mentor and lifelong friend. Emerson's ideas on individualism and nature deeply influenced Thoreau's work.Thoreau's experiment in simple living began in 1845 when he built a small cabin on Emerson's land by Walden Pond. For two years, he lived there, observing nature, cultivating self-sufficiency, and reflecting on the human condition, experiences he later chronicled in Walden. This work, published in 1854, explores themes of self-reliance, spirituality, and the philosophy of natural living, becoming a seminal text in both environmental literature and American thought. Thoreau's advocacy for living with purpose, minimalism, and a connection to nature has left a lasting influence on generations of readers.In his later years, Thoreau continued to write on a wide range of topics, including history, philosophy, and abolitionism. His commitment to social justice was further demonstrated in "Civil Disobedience," written after his brief imprisonment for refusing to pay taxes in protest against slavery and the Mexican-American War. This essay inspired future activists worldwide, including Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr., in their struggles for civil rights. Although Thoreau died relatively young from tuberculosis, his works continue to inspire discussions on individualism, ecological consciousness, and the pursuit of a meaningful life.