Ralph Waldo Emerson: Essays: First and Second Series: A Library of America Paperback Classic

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A compilation of the best essays written by the father oftranscendentalism, with selections from Emerson's lectures on history, art, politics, and more In the words of Harold Bloom, "Emerson's prose is his triumph, both as eloquence and as insight. After Shakespeare, it matches anything else in the language." Here are Ralph Waldo Emerson's classic essays, including the exhortation to "Self-Reliance," the embattled realizations of "Circles" and "Experience," and the groundbreaking achievement of "Nature." Our most eloquent champion of individualism, Emerson acknowledges at the same time the countervailing pressures of society in American life. Even as he extols what he calls "the great and crescive self," he dramatizes and records its vicissitudes. Also gathered here are his wide-ranging discourses on history, art, politics, friendship, love, and much more. For almost thirty years, The Library of America has presented America's best and most significant writing in acclaimed hardcover editions. Now, a new series, Library of America Paperback Classics, offers attractive and affordable books that bring The Library of America's authoritative texts within easy reach of every reader. Each book features an introductory essay by a leading writer, as well as a detailed chronology of the author's life and career, an essay on the choice and history of the text, and notes.

Reviews

"Of the most readily available anthologies of Emerson's work, Poirier's entry is by far the handsomest, most visually appealing of them all....But if one dives more deeply into the collection, one is similarly impressed with its substance....As a package this anthology is nothing less than impressive. It is undoubtedly the collection I will order the next time I teach a substantial amount of Emerson."--Nineteenth-Century Prose
"This volume immediately becomes a leading contender when anyone is choosing a fully representative yet affordable anthology of Emerson."--American Literature
"A solid, well-balanced collection that covers all the standard essays/poems, yet offers a refreshing selection of less-often seen materials."--Fred Erisman, Texas Christian University
"This convenient but copious volume can be strongly recommended for use as either class text or library reader."--Choice
"Very valuable indeed!"--E.N. Feltskog, University of Wisconsin, Madison


"Of the most readily available anthologies of Emerson's work, Poirier's entry is by far the handsomest, most visually appealing of them all....But if one dives more deeply into the collection, one is similarly impressed with its substance....As a package this anthology is nothing less than
impressive. It is undoubtedly the collection I will order the next time I teach a substantial amount of Emerson."--Nineteenth-Century Prose
"This volume immediately becomes a leading contender when anyone is choosing a fully representative yet affordable anthology of Emerson."--American Literature
"A solid, well-balanced collection that covers all the standard essays/poems, yet offers a refreshing selection of less-often seen materials."--Fred Erisman, Texas Christian University
"This convenient but copious volume can be strongly recommended for use as either class text or library reader."--Choice
"Very valuable indeed!"--E.N. Feltskog, University of Wisconsin, Madison


"Of the most readily available anthologies of Emerson's work, Poirier's entry is by far the handsomest, most visually appealing of them all....But if one dives more deeply into the collection, one is similarly impressed with its substance....As a package this anthology is nothing less than
impressive. It is undoubtedly the collection I will order the next time I teach a substantial amount of Emerson."--Nineteenth-Century Prose
"This volume immediately becomes a leading contender when anyone is choosing a fully representative yet affordable anthology of Emerson."--American Literature
"A solid, well-balanced collection that covers all the standard essays/poems, yet offers a refreshing selection of less-often seen materials."--Fred Erisman, Texas Christian University
"This convenient but copious volume can be strongly recommended for use as either class text or library reader."--Choice
"Very valuable indeed!"--E.N. Feltskog, University of Wisconsin, Madison

"Of the most readily available anthologies of Emerson's work, Poirier's entry is by far the handsomest, most visually appealing of them all....But if one dives more deeply into the collection, one is similarly impressed with its substance....As a package this anthology is nothing less than
impressive. It is undoubtedly the collection I will order the next time I teach a substantial amount of Emerson."--Nineteenth-Century Prose
"This volume immediately becomes a leading contender when anyone is choosing a fully representative yet affordable anthology of Emerson."--American Literature
"A solid, well-balanced collection that covers all the standard essays/poems, yet offers a refreshing selection of less-often seen materials."--Fred Erisman, Texas Christian University
"This convenient but copious volume can be strongly recommended for use as either class text or library reader."--Choice
"Very valuable indeed!"--E.N. Feltskog, University of Wisconsin, Madison

Author Bio

Ralph Waldo Emerson(1803-1882) settled in Concord, Massachusetts, in 1834, where he began a career as a public lecturer. Every year Emerson made a lecture tour, the source of most of his essays. His principal publications includeNature(1836),two volumes ofEssays(1841, 1844),Poems(1847),Representative Men(1850),The Conduct of Life(1860), andSociety and Solitude(1870). Douglas Craseis a poet, essayist and critic, whose poetry collectionThe Revisionistwas nominated for a National Book Critics Circle Award and an American Book Award.