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Expect Great Things: The Life and Search of Henry David Thoreau
To coincide with the bicentennial of Thoreau's birth in 2017, this thrilling, meticulous biography by naturalist and historian Kevin Dann fills a gap in our understanding of one modern history's most important spiritual visionaries by capturing the full arc of Thoreau's life as a mystic, spiritual seeker, and explorer in transcendental realms.
This sweeping, epic biography of Henry David Thoreau sees Thoreau's world as the mystic himself saw filled with wonder and mystery; Native American myths and lore; wood sylphs, nature spirits, and fairies; battles between good and evil; and heroic struggles to live as a natural being in an increasingly synthetic world.
Above all, Expect Great Things critically and authoritatively captures Thoreau's simultaneously wild and intellectually keen sense of the mystical, mythical, and supernatural.
Other historians have skipped past or undervalued these aspects of Thoreau's life. In this groundbreaking work, historian and naturalist Kevin Dann restores Thoreau's esoteric visions and explorations to their rightful place as keystones of the man himself.
This sweeping, epic biography of Henry David Thoreau sees Thoreau's world as the mystic himself saw filled with wonder and mystery; Native American myths and lore; wood sylphs, nature spirits, and fairies; battles between good and evil; and heroic struggles to live as a natural being in an increasingly synthetic world.
Above all, Expect Great Things critically and authoritatively captures Thoreau's simultaneously wild and intellectually keen sense of the mystical, mythical, and supernatural.
Other historians have skipped past or undervalued these aspects of Thoreau's life. In this groundbreaking work, historian and naturalist Kevin Dann restores Thoreau's esoteric visions and explorations to their rightful place as keystones of the man himself.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published January 3, 2017
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1638 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
December 12, 2025
This was a really well-written and informative biography. I learned a lot of new things about HDT that I never knew before.
Early in his career, Emerson lent Thoreau $100, but he still couldn't find any work.
Thoreau's love for poetry as a way to express himself was very admirable. He'd often share his poems with flowers. "Though he could address Her more openly in his odes, still he does give voice to half of what he has seen and heard." (55) It's a shame poetry is not as well accepted this day and age.
Thoreau was constantly trying to decode the living world like demanding hieroglyphics and didn't move to Walden until he was 28 years old. He believed that Jesus Christ was the model landlord, probably because he was forgiving. It took seven revisions before Walden was finally published!
Some other interesting notes were Thoreau's emotional attachment to turtles, appreciation of the moon, and his admiration for abolitionist hero John Brown, as reflected by his lectures and written work.
Including bits of poetry with his publications was not always well-received, but I conduce it demonstrates the artistic and emotional depth of this heralded philosopher.
My favorite quote from this book was:
"Zarathustra received his revelations from the archangels at age thirty, when he began his prophetic mission; Siddhartha's great renunciation of his princely life took place in his thirtieth year. Thoreau at age thirty finished his self-imposed isolation at Walden Pond." (138)
Today my sister told me that I would go on to do great things in my life. I actually believed her.
Edit: I have been spending 15+ hours every day taking care of my disabled dad since he came back home from the hospital. We watched the entire Wizard of Oz together. He was so happy. We had Yellow Brick Road and Emerald City green Jello together.
The next day, he had a petrifying seizure and stopped breathing, but I was able to get him on the ground, perform chest compressions, breathing again, and open up his airways while he was on his side before the ambulance arrived.
I eventually melted into a puddle of wary tears.
My cool sister came by later and told me, "I just talked to Dad on the phone. You saved his life. You did a great job."
We shared some well-deserved gourmet toasted coconut and coffee ice cream with her sweetheart friend, but I honestly still couldn't decide if I wanted a big spoon or a little spoon.
Early in his career, Emerson lent Thoreau $100, but he still couldn't find any work.
Thoreau's love for poetry as a way to express himself was very admirable. He'd often share his poems with flowers. "Though he could address Her more openly in his odes, still he does give voice to half of what he has seen and heard." (55) It's a shame poetry is not as well accepted this day and age.
Thoreau was constantly trying to decode the living world like demanding hieroglyphics and didn't move to Walden until he was 28 years old. He believed that Jesus Christ was the model landlord, probably because he was forgiving. It took seven revisions before Walden was finally published!
Some other interesting notes were Thoreau's emotional attachment to turtles, appreciation of the moon, and his admiration for abolitionist hero John Brown, as reflected by his lectures and written work.
Including bits of poetry with his publications was not always well-received, but I conduce it demonstrates the artistic and emotional depth of this heralded philosopher.
My favorite quote from this book was:
"Zarathustra received his revelations from the archangels at age thirty, when he began his prophetic mission; Siddhartha's great renunciation of his princely life took place in his thirtieth year. Thoreau at age thirty finished his self-imposed isolation at Walden Pond." (138)
Today my sister told me that I would go on to do great things in my life. I actually believed her.
Edit: I have been spending 15+ hours every day taking care of my disabled dad since he came back home from the hospital. We watched the entire Wizard of Oz together. He was so happy. We had Yellow Brick Road and Emerald City green Jello together.
The next day, he had a petrifying seizure and stopped breathing, but I was able to get him on the ground, perform chest compressions, breathing again, and open up his airways while he was on his side before the ambulance arrived.
I eventually melted into a puddle of wary tears.
My cool sister came by later and told me, "I just talked to Dad on the phone. You saved his life. You did a great job."
We shared some well-deserved gourmet toasted coconut and coffee ice cream with her sweetheart friend, but I honestly still couldn't decide if I wanted a big spoon or a little spoon.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2017
This biographer undertakes a substantial challenge admirably. It is most of what Thoreau did that we remember is think and write, the man could have been difficult to decipher, and easy to condescend to when discoveries occurred. Why didn't he do more with all that insight?
Instead, the author comes across as admiring without loss of perspective, fascinated without fawning. He sketches Thoreau in relationship to his contemporaries, yes, the cultural beliefs in which he swam, but, most importantly, in relationship to his friends. This, in the author's engaging view, turns out to be Henry David Thoreau's abiding expertise, better than his considerable skill as a writer and underappreciated skills as a naturalist or surveyor. He knew how to be a friend to any with the faintest inclination in that direction, and even to study with grace those embittered few who refused to extend the benefit of friendship to him.
Having gotten a concentrated and well-selected dose of The Best of Thoreau by this author's diligent work, I now realize many aspects of the voice I see in other writers, and the one I seek to develop myself, comes from Thoreau's mix of individualistic hardihood and irrepressible discipline to give his fellow men, one by one, the benefit of the doubt.
Instead, the author comes across as admiring without loss of perspective, fascinated without fawning. He sketches Thoreau in relationship to his contemporaries, yes, the cultural beliefs in which he swam, but, most importantly, in relationship to his friends. This, in the author's engaging view, turns out to be Henry David Thoreau's abiding expertise, better than his considerable skill as a writer and underappreciated skills as a naturalist or surveyor. He knew how to be a friend to any with the faintest inclination in that direction, and even to study with grace those embittered few who refused to extend the benefit of friendship to him.
Having gotten a concentrated and well-selected dose of The Best of Thoreau by this author's diligent work, I now realize many aspects of the voice I see in other writers, and the one I seek to develop myself, comes from Thoreau's mix of individualistic hardihood and irrepressible discipline to give his fellow men, one by one, the benefit of the doubt.
June 10, 2017
I would say that for any admirer and reader of Thoreau, if there are any left (I sometimes wonder myself), then this is a book to have. It does go deeply into the life and his mind. I have no criticism other than it was a slow read and a lot to absorb, Transcendentalism, etc. It can be slow-going on that front, which was the case for me.
I may be somewhat jaded here as the book I prefer to understanding Thoreau is: the Norton Critical Edition of Walden, which has the best essays ever written on Thoreau (in my opinion). White, Baird, and others pulled me into Thoreau over 30 years ago and that has not changed.
I give Dann a lot of kudos for the work and although it was slow-going for me, perhaps that is as it should be with Thoreau.
I may be somewhat jaded here as the book I prefer to understanding Thoreau is: the Norton Critical Edition of Walden, which has the best essays ever written on Thoreau (in my opinion). White, Baird, and others pulled me into Thoreau over 30 years ago and that has not changed.
I give Dann a lot of kudos for the work and although it was slow-going for me, perhaps that is as it should be with Thoreau.
May 17, 2017
After reading publicity interviews for this brand new biography of Henry David Thoreau, I anticipated that this book would deliver on the promise of its title -- and I expected "great things" of it. The author stuck me as someone with a sensitive understanding of the subtle nuances and complexities of Thoreau's various aspects, and that he would, perhaps, succeed in presenting a definitive Thoreau for the 21st century. (Afterall, it has been some decades since a major biography of the subject was published). However, this book was very different from what I expected. Much less than a life, Dann's work seeks more to understand Thoreau as a mystic. I was disappointed that in so doing, the work lacks a critical balance of Thoreau's other aspects, as well as a critical grounding in Thoreau's biography. The jacket cover, describes this book as a "sweeping, epic biography." Sweeping it is, indeed. The work begins well, with an introduction to the subject's mother in the home where Thoreau was born, but then the narrative takes off and readers are never given substantive details about Thoreau's life, it rather jumps and meanders through various episodic incidents and themes that revolve around mysticism. The overall result, is one of fragmented parts rather than a cohesive "life," or understanding of who Thoreau was as a person -- or even, why we ought to care in the first place. The reader is never properly introduced to the subject, to Thoreau's nuclear family, where he lived, or the trajectory of his life. You find out here at there that he had a father, and siblings, that he was a surveyor, etc, But its all very disjointed and haphazardly mentioned in hindsight of some other topic. Its also assumed that the reader registers the relationships to and importance of the various celebrity friends and acquaintances that were significant to Thoreau's life, as they are referenced hither and thither. This work assumes a lot of biographical and contextual knowledge on the part of the reader. It would, perhaps, have succeed much better as an academic series of essays exploring contexts of Thoreau's mysticism than as a biography. Furthermore, at times, the author gets carried away in his enthusiasm for Thoreau's mysticism, which compromises the integrity of his analysis. This is not to say that the work is without its valuable, nuanced insights; I rather enjoyed several observations. For instance, it was quite good at relating aspects of Thoreau's philosophy and experience to broader historical currents and events. However, it could very well do with some better grounding in the substance of Thoreau's biography. There were also some notably factually incorrect slights to Thoreau's contemporaries and unsound argumentative foundations that gave me pause in considering the interpretations of Thoreau presented herein. My concluding sense is that this work was rushed to publication to be the first of several new biographies being issued to mark Thoreau's bicentennial year. If so, it was a tremendous disservice to the work. I really wanted to rate it higher, but it was missing too much; regrettably, 2.5.
February 7, 2017
The National Park Service celebrated its centennial in 2016 and I can't help but wonder what Henry David Thoreau would have thought about the parks. Who else but Thoreau would fully appreciate them? Or would he be disappointed that there are only fifty-nine parks in America. Because, after all, he was a naturalist. To see so many buildings and so few trees in some towns might have been discouraging. There's something so healing about nature. If you've ever been camping or just spent the afternoon outdoors, there's something about being out of doors that sets the mind at peace. I believe nobody felt that more than Thoreau.
Kevin Dann, who is also a naturalist, takes readers on a journey to find Henry David Thoreau. Thoreau wrote essays and poetry, he was a naturalist and transcendentalist, he was an abolitionist and at times practiced civil disobedience. He encouraged people to be observant and ask questions about the natural world. He had a longtime friendship with Ralph Waldo Emmerson and Bronson Alcott (Louisa May Alcott's father).
He also had more of an unconventional side as well. He believed in fairies. He was genuinely enthusiastic about life--even things most might consider mundane. He had a knack for finding unusual and rare plants because he asked tons of questions and mostly because he believed he could find them.
“In the long run, we find what we expect; we shall be fortunate then, if we expect great things.”
But everything I've written so far is a mere glimpse into Henry David Thoreau's life. This year marks two hundred years since his birth. So it seems appropriate that Kevin Dann has written a well-researched biography to help shed light on the complex author of Walden. He uses entries from his journals to help open doors into Thoreau's and the ever-changing world in which we live. He was a unique character whose philosophies help shape some of today's ideals and leaders. I think we would all do well to emulate even a small bit of his philosophy as well.
Read more at http://www.toreadornottoread.net/2017...
Kevin Dann, who is also a naturalist, takes readers on a journey to find Henry David Thoreau. Thoreau wrote essays and poetry, he was a naturalist and transcendentalist, he was an abolitionist and at times practiced civil disobedience. He encouraged people to be observant and ask questions about the natural world. He had a longtime friendship with Ralph Waldo Emmerson and Bronson Alcott (Louisa May Alcott's father).
He also had more of an unconventional side as well. He believed in fairies. He was genuinely enthusiastic about life--even things most might consider mundane. He had a knack for finding unusual and rare plants because he asked tons of questions and mostly because he believed he could find them.
“In the long run, we find what we expect; we shall be fortunate then, if we expect great things.”
But everything I've written so far is a mere glimpse into Henry David Thoreau's life. This year marks two hundred years since his birth. So it seems appropriate that Kevin Dann has written a well-researched biography to help shed light on the complex author of Walden. He uses entries from his journals to help open doors into Thoreau's and the ever-changing world in which we live. He was a unique character whose philosophies help shape some of today's ideals and leaders. I think we would all do well to emulate even a small bit of his philosophy as well.
Read more at http://www.toreadornottoread.net/2017...
February 7, 2017
Expect Great Things by Kevin Dann is a different kind of biography. It is based mostly on primary sources including Thoreau's journals. Dann seems to emphasize Thoreau's knowledge of mythology including daemons, Thoreau's belief in the supernatural including jinns & faeries, Thoreau's belief in the divine, his visions--what is going on in Thoreau's head. According to Dann, Thoreau was a somnambulist and sufferer of narcolepsy. Thoreau said of himself, “I am a mystic, a transcendentalist, & a natural philosopher to boot.” He was very concerned with his inner life, his soul. Thoreau believed he could achieve through visualization. “The scarlet oak must, in a sense, be in our eye when you go forth. We cannot see anything until we are possessed with the idea of it, & then we can hardly see anything else….I go thinking of it & expecting it unconsciously, & at length I surely see it, & it is henceforth an actual neighbor of mine.” (257) “He prays for it, & so he gets it:”
(257) This book has given me the best definition of Transcendentalism of any book I have read.
(257) This book has given me the best definition of Transcendentalism of any book I have read.
February 26, 2024
While I have no other Thoreau biographies to compare this with, I found this one to be compelling not just in the facts but the narrative as well. It is actually my first introduction to Thoreau, and I can say that after one reading I’m inclined to follow nearly every piece of advice Thoreau has given to the individual.
Although it could be wordy at times, held too much academic jargon for my tastes (obviously penned by a college professor), it nonetheless leaves me utterly obsessed with the man the book is about. I could happily devote the rest of my life to the words and vision of Henry David Thoreau.
For that, Kevin Dann, I thank you.
Although it could be wordy at times, held too much academic jargon for my tastes (obviously penned by a college professor), it nonetheless leaves me utterly obsessed with the man the book is about. I could happily devote the rest of my life to the words and vision of Henry David Thoreau.
For that, Kevin Dann, I thank you.
May 16, 2025
A brilliant deep dive - it gets into the weeds at times but overall a beautifully written and very helpful biography of Thoreau.
June 29, 2023
This and a couple of other books are the best books out there on Thoreau. I recently also read Henry David Thoreau: A Life as well as Henry Thoreau: A Life of the Mind and I believe these three books form an essential trio of books on Thoreau, other than the writer's own works themselves. The best part is that they rarely repeat themselves and flesh out a full portrait of the American poet-naturalist.
Firstly, Henry David Thoreau: A Life is a recent book, like this one, commemorating the sesquicentennial of Thoreau's birth. Wells is a great, absorbing read that is a traditional biography focusing on life events that also gets the balance of Thoreau's mental evolution absolutely right. Secondly, any self-respecting Thoreau enthusiast will follow up that book with Henry Thoreau: A Life of the Mind, which is a masterful biography of Thoreau's intellect. Richardson, so very dearly missed, perhaps wrote the best book on Thoreau with this one, a readable and involving look at the influences and inspirations that led Thoreau to his own search.
Dann's book is a naturalist book first and foremost. That immediately sets it apart from both Wells and Richardson. Dann's focus is on how Thoreau took the prejudices, superstitions, and supernatural beliefs of his Concord neighbors and strove for an understanding of our world based purely on natural observation. Everything Thoreau did was apply his observations of the natural world around him, obviously most famously at Walden Pond, and extrapolate those understandings into the operations of the macro-nature around humanity, including the universe itself. Dann charts that expertly, though readers whose eyes glaze over at continued references to flora and fauna may rate this a star or two lower. In a sense, the nature around him was his religion, and believed that the patterns of creation reveal something to us humans and something about how we order our world and universe. That "search" as indicated by the title is just as important to Thoreau's work as any other source, and makes this a vital contribution to Thoreau studies.
Combined with Wells and Richardson, this great trio of books equals a course in Thoreau at the collegiate level. Between the three, you have a choice of which approach you would prefer to use to Thoreau: a full bodied life story, a map of his reading influence (including his friendship with Emerson), or this book, that almost reads like being the only soul conferring with Thoreau at Walden as he makes his discoveries. Vital stuff, and truly even more unique as we lose teach with the naturalism of Thoreau.
Firstly, Henry David Thoreau: A Life is a recent book, like this one, commemorating the sesquicentennial of Thoreau's birth. Wells is a great, absorbing read that is a traditional biography focusing on life events that also gets the balance of Thoreau's mental evolution absolutely right. Secondly, any self-respecting Thoreau enthusiast will follow up that book with Henry Thoreau: A Life of the Mind, which is a masterful biography of Thoreau's intellect. Richardson, so very dearly missed, perhaps wrote the best book on Thoreau with this one, a readable and involving look at the influences and inspirations that led Thoreau to his own search.
Dann's book is a naturalist book first and foremost. That immediately sets it apart from both Wells and Richardson. Dann's focus is on how Thoreau took the prejudices, superstitions, and supernatural beliefs of his Concord neighbors and strove for an understanding of our world based purely on natural observation. Everything Thoreau did was apply his observations of the natural world around him, obviously most famously at Walden Pond, and extrapolate those understandings into the operations of the macro-nature around humanity, including the universe itself. Dann charts that expertly, though readers whose eyes glaze over at continued references to flora and fauna may rate this a star or two lower. In a sense, the nature around him was his religion, and believed that the patterns of creation reveal something to us humans and something about how we order our world and universe. That "search" as indicated by the title is just as important to Thoreau's work as any other source, and makes this a vital contribution to Thoreau studies.
Combined with Wells and Richardson, this great trio of books equals a course in Thoreau at the collegiate level. Between the three, you have a choice of which approach you would prefer to use to Thoreau: a full bodied life story, a map of his reading influence (including his friendship with Emerson), or this book, that almost reads like being the only soul conferring with Thoreau at Walden as he makes his discoveries. Vital stuff, and truly even more unique as we lose teach with the naturalism of Thoreau.
August 1, 2017
Beautifully written, I cannot imagine any better form of a tribute. I'd give 5 stars if I'd managed to navigate through more smoothly. I will read again after digest Thoreau's writings further, and perhaps even after understand Emerson more.
Emerson, had a good grasp of his friend's temperament and endeavor, couldn't fully appreciate Thoreau then. I doubt any contemporary "Emerson" would do better now. We live in a world that make "Thoreau" more and more like a marginal oddity. An ambitious leader is in higher demand for mankind fulfillment (of what?).
The book may not please many. A naturalist inclination (rather than a rigid scientist) plus artistic mind (with discipline) can prepare one to see through his eyes, as a start.
I'm still hoping Thoreau could stay or become (if not yet) an exemplary American for many more generations.
Emerson, had a good grasp of his friend's temperament and endeavor, couldn't fully appreciate Thoreau then. I doubt any contemporary "Emerson" would do better now. We live in a world that make "Thoreau" more and more like a marginal oddity. An ambitious leader is in higher demand for mankind fulfillment (of what?).
The book may not please many. A naturalist inclination (rather than a rigid scientist) plus artistic mind (with discipline) can prepare one to see through his eyes, as a start.
I'm still hoping Thoreau could stay or become (if not yet) an exemplary American for many more generations.
May 26, 2017
This well-written biography of Henry David Thoreau helps the reader understand the subject in a way I hadn't known before. Known primarily as the writer of "Walden," Thoreau was a speaker, writer, surveyor, naturalist (before such a thing existed). He was certainly a man of principles, one who defended John Brown when others tried to distance themselves.
The author gives a good description of the country at the time--the uptick in religion and spiritualism that influenced many people, the growth of abolition. Thoreau was a quiet man who spent much time on his own, yet influenced those he knew and expressed himself clearly. After he died, his voluminous journals provided readers with insight into his life and thought.
The author gives a good description of the country at the time--the uptick in religion and spiritualism that influenced many people, the growth of abolition. Thoreau was a quiet man who spent much time on his own, yet influenced those he knew and expressed himself clearly. After he died, his voluminous journals provided readers with insight into his life and thought.
November 6, 2021
The Transcendentalist literary and philosophical movement from mid-19th century New England stressed intuition, self-reliance and human godliness. Since the unseen and eternal were valued, Transcendentalists supported metaphysical thinking, which underlies an astrological world view.
Expect Great Things, Kevin Dann’s biography of Henry David Thoreau, explores his connections with the transcendent world. Thoreau captured personal insights and ecstatic experiences in his poetry and journals, many of which are shared in this book. And the author also conveys his understanding of astrology, mythology and cycles. Read the full review on my blog: https://karenchristino.com/neptune-an...
Expect Great Things, Kevin Dann’s biography of Henry David Thoreau, explores his connections with the transcendent world. Thoreau captured personal insights and ecstatic experiences in his poetry and journals, many of which are shared in this book. And the author also conveys his understanding of astrology, mythology and cycles. Read the full review on my blog: https://karenchristino.com/neptune-an...
October 18, 2018
A pure delight. An truly transcendental journey. An active man in a world transitioning from agrarian living in the mid 1800's into the beginning edge of the bustling industrial revolution.far reaching in its scope from the minutiae of depth soundings at Walden Pond to the precious awareness of nature's guttural value to our total being to man's responsibility of equal rights of all. Bizarre at times with the ethereal mysticism . certainly a lot of meat on the bone to nourish and question our total earthly experience. Expect Great Reading, put on your seat belt. Kevin Dann doesn't disappoint as he guides us along this facinating joyride.
December 31, 2021
A value perspective on Thoreau. The biography delves into the era and provides detailed insight to influences on his thinking. Surprised to learn he died rather young (44), was never married, and possibly celibate. Pleased to further understand his love of nature, and recount his treks through parts of Maine and the White Mountains, where I often hike. Will my senses on keen alert for his spirit there.
July 21, 2017
Thorough examination of Henry David Thoreau's mind and what made him the man he was, both as a writer and as a human being. Not for the faint hearted. This book took me awhile to plow through but I am glad I did. Of course, I am a Henry David Thoreau fan.
November 2, 2019
This book provides some interesting context about the intellectual climate in America in middle of 19th century. E.g., vestigial ideas about fairies & astrology. Also, romantic notions of morality in nature. To that extent this biography helps one understand Thoreau.
September 24, 2021
"In the long run, we find what we expect. We shall be fortunate then if we expect great things."
Eye-opening (mind boggling?), but a great tribute. A chore to read however and perhaps better suited to students of Thoreau than mere admirers like this reader.
Eye-opening (mind boggling?), but a great tribute. A chore to read however and perhaps better suited to students of Thoreau than mere admirers like this reader.
June 29, 2022
Not what I expected from a biography of Henry David Thoreau. I find the folk magic traditions of early nineteenth century America fascinating, but I feel like Dann gave them too much space in this book. And his characterization of Joseph Smith and Mormonism misses the mark by quite a bit.
September 23, 2017
I enjoyed getting to know Thoreau in more depth. I was fascinated by his interest in the esoteric and the discussion of his personal relationships.
March 13, 2017
It was a little dry - but good
February 22, 2017
I had mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand there were many insights related to Thoreau's life covering aspects other biographers omitted. But there was a lot of discussion about the "shams and delusions" (to use Thoreau's wording) of the times in which he lived, and sometimes it was a chore to get through these sections. These covered spiritualism, mysticism, animism, superstitions, and so on. There was even a section on people's belief in a mysterious sea serpent. Oh, well.
February 18, 2017
This book is an obvious labor of love by its author, and he deserves some sort of award for pouring through Henry David's journals. For the reader of this book requires a strong commitment to slog through the minutia of Thoreau's writings that Dann decides to include, (I stayed with this book to the end because it was chosen by my book group at the one meeting I wasn't able to attend, and felt a responsibility to read the damn thing). Thoreau tends to be a giant in 19th century American Literature, and, as one of the first environmentalist writers, and a figurehead of the Transcendental movement he captures the imagination of his readers. The weird almost New Age spirituality of Thoreau, along with his stubborn refusal or inability to fit in, which comes off in his writings as arrogance, at times made me want to say: "Get over yourself." Yet, Thoreau had an amazing ability of observing nature from the perspective of wonder, which is his strong suit.
Want to read
November 22, 2016(Won a Giveaway for this on Goodreads)
April 9, 2017
Expect Great Things takes readers into an age that was every bit as unconventional as Henry David Thoreau, whose writings would do so much to define it.
An America that was in thrall to the Enlightenment--and in the middle of its own Industrial Revolution--was fertile ground for con men, millenialists, and all manner of truth-peddlers. How HDT was able to find amidst this melange a tree-lined avenue to Truth is quite remarkable.
This is a biography of ideas as much as it is of a man. Extended sections deal with the night of falling stars in 1833, the symbology of the early Mormon movement, and fairies, to name a few--some of which Thoreau embraced, but most of which he scorned.
Dann does a deep dive into Thoreau's journals. I had never seen his poems anywhere--after reading them I know why he published only excerpts. Still, they give insights into his inspirations, which is the way Dann uses them here.
I'm not sure that this book breaks a lot of new ground on Thoreau, but it fills in the context of his life and thoughts very, very nicely.
An America that was in thrall to the Enlightenment--and in the middle of its own Industrial Revolution--was fertile ground for con men, millenialists, and all manner of truth-peddlers. How HDT was able to find amidst this melange a tree-lined avenue to Truth is quite remarkable.
This is a biography of ideas as much as it is of a man. Extended sections deal with the night of falling stars in 1833, the symbology of the early Mormon movement, and fairies, to name a few--some of which Thoreau embraced, but most of which he scorned.
Dann does a deep dive into Thoreau's journals. I had never seen his poems anywhere--after reading them I know why he published only excerpts. Still, they give insights into his inspirations, which is the way Dann uses them here.
I'm not sure that this book breaks a lot of new ground on Thoreau, but it fills in the context of his life and thoughts very, very nicely.
April 20, 2017
An examination of the life of Thoreau with a focus on Transcendentalism and mysticism. Well written, engaging and clearly well researched. Does a nice job of placing Thoreau in context of his historical time and place among his contemporaries Emerson, the Alcotts, Channing et al. Though I don't share the author's apparent interest in mysticism I found the inclusion of mesmerism, somnambulism, faeries, etc, both interesting and helpful for getting a deeper understanding of the society and culture Thoreau inhabited. Dann's ability to illuminate Thoreau's fierce individualism and the interests and convictions that drove him while simultaneously showing his relation to others (Emerson in particular) and to his time and place made the book very satisfying.
April 20, 2017
I won a copy of this book.
I was really disappointed in this book. I thought it was going to be a new biography about Thoreau and his times, but found Dann was more interested in Thoreau as a mystic. Might be a good book for you, but it didn't work for me.
I was really disappointed in this book. I thought it was going to be a new biography about Thoreau and his times, but found Dann was more interested in Thoreau as a mystic. Might be a good book for you, but it didn't work for me.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews