"The mind of Emerson," literary critic Harold Bloom once wrote, "is the mind of America." Indeed, Ralph Waldo Emerson's essays contain some of the most memorable and important expressions of American thought. Generations of readers have been stirred by Emerson's ideal of self-reliance, and his vision of nature as a manifestation of the divine spirit has profoundly influenced American naturalists and environmentalists from Thoreau's time to the present. Poets as diverse as Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, and Allen Ginsberg were inspired by the transcendental flavor of Emerson's work. This volume brings together selections from Emerson's best-loved writings, particularly drawing upon his early work, which is some of his most poignant. Included are excerpts from Nature, the famous "Divinity School Address," "Self-Reliance," "The Over-Soul," "Compensation," "Spiritual Laws," "The Poet," and "Circles." Several of his most moving poems appear here as well.
Author: Ralph Waldo Emerson
Publisher: Shambhala
Customer Reviews
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Beautiful
This was a good introduction to emerson. It's a small book, and far from a complete collection of his works, but it includes some of his most famous and moving essays as well as a few of his poems. This was my first reading of emerson, and at first, I didn't care too much for him. But after reading it a second time, I understood more clearly his message, and it began to grow on me. In fact, I've since purchased a complete collection of his writings as this book left me hungry for more. Even though this other book contains everything this book has, plus more, I am still glad I bought this book. It's nice to have a little pocket sized collection of his greatest hits.
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<br />"The young man reveres men of genius, because, to speak truly, they are more himself than he is. They receive of the soul as he also receives, but they more."
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My Novel Review
An exquisite pocket sized edition. Emerson, as always, will stun you with his prose style rhetoric. "I am God in nature; I am a weed by the wall."
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Nature and Other Writings
Emerson is a genious. His words in this small edition are just as sweet and easily accessable. It is handy to have a small version to keep close at all times. Everytime I look at the night sky I think of a quote of Emerson, "But every night come out these envoys of beauty, and light the universe with their admonishing smile." That alone is a reason to own the work of Emerson.
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