Description
Book Synopsis In his 1837 speech The American Scholar, Ralph Waldo Emerson noted, life is our dictionary, encapsulating a body of work that reached well beyond the American 19th century. This comprehensive study explores Emerson as a preacher, poet, philosopher, lecturer, essayist and editor. There are nearly 100 entries on individual texts and their personal, historical and literary contexts. Emerson''s work is placed within his relationships with family members, fellow Transcendentalists and transatlantic friends, and his commitment to ethics, self-culture and social change.
This book provides the fullest possible exploration of Emerson''s writing and philosophy. Far ahead of his own time, the man enthusiastically questioned institutions, communities, friendships, history, individuality and contemporaneous approaches to environmental stewardship.
Table of Contents
- Table of Contents
- Acknowledgments vi
- Preface 1
- Abbreviations 4
- Introduction 5
- Emerson: A Brief Biography 13
- Chronology of Emerson's Major Book Publications 23
- Ralph Waldo Emerson: A Companion 25
- Appendix: Writing and Research Topics 273
- Works Cited 277
- Index 289
