Revising Mythologies: The Composition of Thoreau's Major Works

by Stephen Adams, Donald Ross

Revising Mythologies examines Thoreau's life as a writer by tracing the complex development of his major works.

271 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1989

Reviews

[Rick · Rating 4 out of 5]

(I know. Here is another book most of you would never think of reading. But nonetheless...) This is about the writing process, how Thoreau used his journals, his life, his influences, and the events of the times to put his books together. He was into mythologizing himself, his friends, even the natural world. Try to mythologize an apple some time! His mythic heroes are created for the purpose at hand. For example, his mythic self at Walden is much different than his mythic self climbing Mt. Katadin or his mythic self on the shores of Cape Cod. In this book you have to get past the detailed left-brained analyses to really appreciate the really fine and intelligent commentary.