Nature Literature discussion

Please add your comments about Walden and Civil Disobedience to this thread.

I'll be reading this one - I dug out an old paperback version I had. Amazing to see I paid $1.95 for it back in the day!

Becky wrote: "I'll be reading this one - I dug out an old paperback version I had. Amazing to see I paid $1.95 for it back in the day!"

I wish i were that organized. I have an ancient hard cover, but no idea where it is.

I have the Norton Critical Edition: Walden & Resistance to Civil Government.

The link is not to the first edition I have, but a subsequent one. Originally published in 1966, it also contains excellent essays about Walden by people such as E.B. White.

I purchased this book in 1982 as one of the textbooks for my college class in 19th Century American Literature, taught by Professor Stuart Rodnon at Rider College.

I thought there would be a stamped price on it, but there is not. It does contain my name and dorm room. It has been a cherished book for me and has been with me for 44 years now.

When I moved from New Jersey to North Carolina, I donated approximately 500 books that I had in my second floor study. This is one of the 100 books I kept and will always keep.

This is a reread for me, as perhaps others, too. I want to pose a question.

What do you think of the title of the first chapter, Economy?

I get what he is after — economy as in reducing needs to the barest — but I think the title also throws me off. I always thought economy as living as frugally as possible. I suspect this is part of it.

I think a different title might have worked better. But I really do not know what word or words might work.

John wrote: "This is a reread for me, as perhaps others, too. I want to pose a question.

What do you think of the title of the first chapter, Economy?

I get what he is after — economy as in reducing needs to ..."

Hi John. I also notice that Merriam Webster has an archaic meaning for economy as, "the management of household or private affairs and especially expenses" which I think fits well with that chapter.

The edition I'm reading is one I used for both my American Lit. and Nature Lit. courses in university many years ago. I've underlined so many passages that virtually the entire book is underlined! It's amusing me no end.

But reading it again now, after 30+ years, I am struck by how quickly he jumped into his themes in the first chapter. Thoreau certainly doesn't mince words!

Thanks Becky.

I decided with this read I wanted to skip around. The chapters are relatively self-contained. I read The Bean-Field last week and enjoyed it. Thoreau wanted to get to know beans. The historian Jill Lepore cited this chapter as “beautiful and elegiac.”

Just picked up my copy, and I'm surprised how short it is.

Hayley wrote: "Just picked up my copy, and I'm surprised how short it is."

Short, but some intense reading! It takes me awhile to get into the rhythm of Thoreau's writing, even though I love it when I'm "in the groove."

I must say, I started reading Thoreau’s journal and I am astounded by the writing. Short, beautifully written observations. A true joy. I think Walden is great, but his journal is just as good.