Henry David Thoreau’s 1854 Walden is an indisputable masterpiece of American literature. The book is an intensely influential philosophical work exploring Thoreau’s decision to expand his understanding of society through personal introspection from a small cabin at the edge of Concord Massachusetts. Rather than devolving into Luddite or antiquarian escapism, Thoreau takes this reprise from daily life to engage in philosophical explorations of man, nature and those things which mediate between the two. These explorations are the central reason why Walden endures within the cannon of American philosophical thought and would go on to confer the moniker, “the father of environmentalism” upon Thoreau. Thoreau’s decision to move into the woodlands near Walden Pond initiates an exploration of a central theme; the exploration of barriers between man and nature (ultimately the divine). Imminently quotable and often paraphrased, Walden offers the reader a number starting points for examining our environment and the nature of our relationship with the aforesaid. Walden stands the test of time because the concepts explored within this work are perennial in nature. “We do not ride on the railroad; it rides upon us”, quoted from the book could easily question our 21st century relationship with digital technology. Moreover, the American belief in self-reliance is expanded in Walden into the concept of spiritual self-reliance. The adjoining work, Civil Disobedience is equally influential having informed the non-violent resistance movements of Leo Tolstoy, Mohandas K. Gandhi, and Martin Luther King, Jr.

Walden and Civil Disobedience (Well Read Collection)

Literature & Fiction

Thoreau, Henry David`

United States

Well Read Edition

Nathaniel Hawthorne's 1850 historical fiction masterpiece The Scarlet Letter is considered one of the greatest American novels. It is important to note that in the America of the 1850s, the book’s genesis action, adultery was not considered appropriate for polite society. Due to quality of novel and Hawthorne’s respect among the New England literary establishment, The Scarlet Letter was quickly accepted as appropriate reading in polite society. The book is set in the earliest days of the Puritan Massachusetts Colony, Hester Prynne’s adultery is used by Hawthorne to explore the deepest depths of the human heart. The interplay of Hester, her husband Rodger’s ceaseless torture of Arthur Dimmesdale – secret father of Hester’s child results in a mesmerizing American Tragedy. The Scarlet Letter represents the height of Hawthorne's literary genius. exploration of the universals themes of legalism, sin, guilt and the deft application of psychological depth has kept this book deeply relevant since it’s first printing.

The Scarlet Letter

Hawthorne,Nathaniel

Classics

Jane Eyre: An Autobiography is a novel by English writer Charlotte Brontë published on 16 October 1847. The novel is primarily a Bildungsroman (coming-of-age story) novel. Jane Eyre is critically regarded as being ahead of its time given due to the individualistic character of Jane and the novel's exploration of classism, sexuality, atonement/forgiveness, and proto-feminism and other a-typical themes. These are themes that contemporary authors and readers continue to grapple with today.

Jane Eyre: An Autobiography

BRONTЁ, CHARLOTTE

Literary

The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe

Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe was first published on April 25, 1719 during the age of exploration and enlightenment. The world was actively explored, mapped, settled, and reported back to various European ports and capitals. Readers in the 1700’s considered long distance travel perhaps in the same way we regard space travel today – an exotic privileged accessible to a few well trained professions. The average reader of the period barely travelled a more than a few miles from their homes. Stories of far away places, exotic cultures and fanciful creatures were all the rage at that time. Defoe however did not rely on these motifs in order to craft an engaging story that has persisted beyond it’s 18th century companions. Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe was first published on April 25, 1719 during the age of exploration and enlightenment. The world was actively explored, mapped, settled, and reported back to various European ports and capitals. Readers in the 1700’s considered long distance travel perhaps in the same way we regard space travel today – an exotic privileged accessible to a few well trained professions. The average reader of the period barely travelled a more than a few miles from their homes. Stories of far away places, exotic cultures and fanciful creatures were all the rage at that time. Defoe however did not rely on these motifs in order to craft an engaging story that has persisted beyond it’s 18th century companions.

DEFOE, DANIEL

Arkham Agglomeration: H.P. Lovecraft

Lovecraft., H.P

Genre Fiction

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