Naturalist and philosopher Thoreau's timeless essays on the role of humanity—in the world of nature, and in society and government.
Thoreau, a sturdy individualist and nature lover, lived a spare existence in a wooden hut on the edge of Walden Pond near Concord, Massachusetts, from 1845 to 1847. "Walden" is the fruit of Thoreau's two-year stay on the Walden Pond. It is a record of his experiment in a simple life and his contemplation of the wonders of nature and the ways of man. He carefully shaped the book to follow the natural cycle of the seasons, yet it is more than an account of life in the woods, it is a quest for personal freedom and individuality that evokes nature without being sentimental or distorting the natural world.
"Civil Disobedience" was also based on Thoreau's experiences during the period he lived on the pond. In 1846, he was arrested for not having paid his poll tax, as a way of demonstrating that he did not recognize the authority of a government that "buys and sells men, women, and children." It is a treatise against slavery and a government that wages war to support injustice.
This edition includes:
-A concise introduction that gives readers important background information
-A chronology of the author's life and work
-A timeline of significant events that provides the book's historical context
-An outline of key themes and plot points to help readers form their own interpretations
-Detailed explanatory notes
-Critical analysis, including contemporary and modern perspectives on the work
-Discussion questions to promote lively classroom and book group interaction
-A list of recommended related books and films to broaden the reader's experience
Enriched Classics offer readers affordable editions of great works of literature enhanced by helpful notes and insightful commentary. The scholarship provided in Enriched Classics enables readers to appreciate, understand, and enjoy the world's finest books to their full potential.
After hearing and reading so many good things about this book, I was quite excited to be finally reading it. I really wanted to like it, but in the end I didn't, as much as I tried to.
I ploughed on through to the end, but I just found it to be too long and boring. There were some really interesting sections and thoughts, but too much of it was not that interesting for me. To be honest, I had to skim read the final few chapters, as I despaired of never being able to finish it.
In the end I gave it two stars, because there are some interesting parts. Unfortunately, there was too much uninteresting stuff to read just to find those parts. I think that the long drawn-out and rambling style put me off as well, and there were parts where I just wished he would get to the point, or just any point at all.
