Henry Thoreau as Remembered by a Young Friend

by Edward Waldo Emerson

An extraordinary personal testament to the life and times of one of America's great naturalists and literary figures — less a biography than an essay in defense of Thoreau by one of his closest friends. This moving, sensitive and charmingly written remembrance offers valuable insights into the life of a remarkable man.


Excerpt:
As to the pencil business. I wish to show his dutiful and respectful attitude toward his family, and the important part he bore in improving their lead pencil business and putting it for the time beyond competition in this coun try, giving them a good maintenance; although his life was too valuable to him to put into lead-pencils. Suppose he had done so?

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography

152 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1917

About the author

American physician, writer and lecturer, son of Ralph Waldo Emerson, uncle of Waldo Emerson Forbes.

Reviews

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful tribute to Mr. Thoreau! When we read his 'Walden' this past Spring we found ourselves wondering what sort of a man he was. At times he comes across as rather bitter and extreme. I have to disagree with many things in his philosophy, yet there is so much truth and poetry in his writings as well. When I am feeling a little down, his words are often "like the blast of a trumpet" to stir me up again. This book, written by the son of Ralph Waldo Emerson, who knew Thoreau intimately, dispels some of the myths about this strange and wonderful man, with stories told by his mother and others who knew him well. In it we see a kindly man, gentle with women and children, and always ready to help his friends and neighbors.

"When one sees another, helpful and kindly in common relations, sincere and brave in speech, and ever trying to keep the conversation above gossip and triviality; easily earning a simple living by work, humble, but done as if for God's inspection, yet saving a share of each day for the life to which his instinct and genius lead him, yet, on occasion , leaving it readily to please and help others; able to rise above bitter bereavement; using disappointment in early love to purify life; fearless and in good heart in life and in death , - one may well ask, Is Folly behind all this?"

"The humour, the raciness, and the flavour of the moor and the greenwood that is in the Robin Hood ballads he loved, was in his speech . In his books, particularly “ Walden,” the contentious tone may linger unpleasantly in the reader's ears and memory...yet when he at last lays by his wholesome but fatiguing buffeting North -wind method, there comes winning sunshine; and the enchanting haze of a poet's thought brings out the true beauty in the commonest things."

"For years, a wanderer in the outskirts of our village was like to meet this sturdy figure striding silently through tangled wood or wild meadow at any hour of day or night; yet he would vent his happiness in a wild and gay dance, or yet again lie motionless in any weather in a lonely wood, waiting for his friends, the wild creatures, and winning in the match with them of leisure and patience."

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a somewhat small book recounting the character and person of Henry David Thoreau. The author, Edward Emerson was a child growing up in Concord and knew Thoreau quite well being the son of Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Emerson does not rely solely on his own experiences and memories, he includes other people's remarks about Thoreau. There are also passages of Thoreau’s that were from his diary or other published works. He also has a few poems, or lines of poetry that is sprinkled throughout.

The book was published about 70 years after Thoreau's passing and is a response to those who criticized his character. Some of the townsfolk of Concord at that time thought he was lazy or didn’t do right by his family by spending time wandering around the woods. Emerson here points out how Thoreau was wisely spending his time. He also shows how Thoreau was ahead of his time. If that was noticeable in 1917 he is every more so now another 100 plus years later.

[Sheri Hazeltine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It was written by someone who knew and grew up with Thoreau in Concord and is full of interesting anecdotes.

[Erin J Kahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just really love Thoreau.

[Kristi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This slim volume was written by the son of Ralph Waldo Emerson in defense of the memory of family friend and author, Henry David Thoreau. It is a significant work in the historiography of Thoreau biography. Emerson uses his own personal recollections, as well as those who other who personally knew Thoreau, to salvage Thoreau's literary and personal reputation from charges of imitation, selfishness, hypocrisy, laziness, and the the myth of the taciturn hermit, which were part of Thoreau's public persona by the early 20th century.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Edward W. Emerson was a son of Ralph Waldo Emerson and knew Henry Thoreau personally and greatly admired him. He wrote this memoir in response to James Russell Lowell's continued attacks on Thoreau. For more on that see: https://historyofmassachusetts.org/ja... As a trusted country doctor, Edward was able to talk to numerous other people around Concord who also knew Thoreau, some as adults, and was able to collect information that otherwise would have been lost to history. If the adults didn't always appreciate Thoreau, it seems the young people did. I was tickled to read that, in addition to the Emerson children, Thoreau also paid visits to the Alcott children and a poem written by Louisa May Alcott about him was included in Emerson's account.

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, written by Ralph Waldo Emerson's son (who was 18 at the date of Thoreau's death) is an excellent short biography of Thoreau. Edward Emerson does a great job of countering other biographies critical (especially Lowell's) of Thoreau. One of the quotes I will remember is "to his lonely happiness the world will owe the best gifts he has left."

He was certainly a happy, but also a lonely man. Edward remembers him as both. Henry was kind to the children especially of the Emerson household. The Dover paperback edition is only 50 pages, but well worth it. After reading this book I began to connect Thoreau's life to that of Jesus'. They both were outcasted by the society who didn't understand them, they both were friends to children, dedicated to their ideals. Could Thoreau have been the best picture of Jesus for his time period? I'll have to think it through more before I argue that statement, but maybe you would like to think it through as well.

I started at 4 stars, but considering the brief nature of the book, I think the investment is well worth the yield. Everyone needs some Thoreau in their life, and this is a great addition/brief picture of his life to augment one's reading of his works.

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, written by Ralph Waldo Emerson's son (who was 18 at the date of Thoreau's death) is an excellent short biography of Thoreau. Edward Emerson does a great job of countering criticisms of Thoreau. One of the quotes I will remember is "to his lonely happiness the world will owe the best gifts he has left."

He was certainly a happy, but also a lonely man. Edward remembers him as both. Henry was kind to the children especially of the Emerson household. The short 50 or so pages/just over 2 hrs on audio is well worth it. After reading this book I began to connect Thoreau's life to that of Jesus' and Socrates. They both were outcasted by the society who didn't understand them, they both were friends to outcasts and dedicated to their ideals. Thoreau was certainly a prophetic voice carrying ideas and ramifications into our own time period.

I started at 4 stars, but considering the brief nature of the book, I think the investment is well worth the yield. Everyone needs some Thoreau in their life, and this is a great addition/brief picture of his life to augment one's reading of his works.

Also consider checking out Ralph Waldo Emerson's 12 page biography on Thoreau.

[Brian Perusek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very neat first hand account of Thoreau's brief life by Emerson's own son. If interested in the life of Thoreau, must read.