"Walden" was published in 1854. Henry David Thoreau shares his experiences living somewhat isolated from society in order to understand, first hand, the concepts of simple living and self-sufficiency.
Thoreau built the cabin himself on land owned by his dear from Ralph Waldo Emerson. The spot is not too far from Concord, Massachusetts. The cabin was not far from his family home and was not out in the wilderness as some people believe. It was actually just on the edge of town. Thoreau expounds upon the benefits of living a solitary life close to nature. When speaking of his love of a solitary life he says, "I never found the companion that was so companionable as solitude."
Although this is supposed to be an experience in self-sufficiency, we learn that Thoreau was supplied with his basic needs of food, shelter, clothing and fuel by his mother, his best friend and Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Waldo Emerson. The Emersons allowed Thoreau to build his small house and plant a garden in exchange for the clearing of some land and other chores while he was on the land.
Thoreau takes us through his endeavors during his two year period at Walden, including building and maintaining his house, raising thousands of bean plants and other vegetables, making bread, clearing land, chopping wood, making repairs for the Emersons, going into town, and writing every day.
His time at Walden was his most productive as a writer.
Undoubtedly one of the most famous essayists of all time, Henry David Thoreau's "Civil Disobedience" seems as apropos today as it did when it was published in 1849.
In today's political climate, you often hear said Thoreau's opening motto - "That governments is best which governs least." Thoreau felt that government lends itself to corruption by enabling a few men to impose their will on the majority and to profit monetarily from their power.
