Difference between revisions of "Henry David Thoreau"
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| − | '''Henry David Thoreau''' (1817-1862) was an American [[writer]] and [[philosopher]], and along with [[Ralph Waldo Emerson]], a major figure in the [[Transcendentalist]] movement. He is perhaps best known for his book ''Walden'' (1854), an account of a two year period during which he lived in relative solitude near the shores of Walden Pond in [[Massachusetts]], and ''Civil Disobedience'' (1849), an essay which depicts his arrest for refusing to pay | + | '''Henry David Thoreau''' (1817-1862) was an American [[writer]] and [[philosopher]], and along with [[Ralph Waldo Emerson]], a major figure in the [[Transcendentalist]] movement. He is perhaps best known for his book ''[[Walden]]'' (1854), an account of a two-year period during which he lived in relative solitude near the shores of Walden Pond in [[Massachusetts]], and for ''Civil Disobedience'' (1849), an essay which depicts his arrest for refusing to pay a poll tax in 1845 that would support the [[Mexican-American War]] and [[slavery]]. In ''A Plea for John Brown'' (1859) he defended the [[Harper's Ferry Raid]]. |
| − | His work ''Civil Disobedience'' would served as inspiration for [[Mohandas Gandhi|Gandhi]], [[Tolstoy]] and modern civil rights leaders | + | His work ''Civil Disobedience'' would served as inspiration for [[Mohandas Gandhi|Gandhi]], [[Tolstoy]] and modern civil rights leaders in using non-violent means of protest to further a cause.<ref>The New American Desk Encyclopedia, Penguin Group, 1989</ref> |
| − | Thoreau is sometimes mistakenly thought of as a sort of hermit or vagabond, but in fact he was completely serious about carrying on the family business, a | + | Thoreau is sometimes mistakenly thought of as a sort of hermit or vagabond, but in fact he was completely serious about carrying on the family business, a factory producing pencils. He made significant improvements in their manufacture and engineered a machine for grinding "plumbago" ([[graphite]]) more finely to produce a higher-quality "lead". Thoreau pencils were regarded as being among the best-manufactured in the U.S.<ref>Petroski, Henry (1989), "H. D. Thoreau, Engineer." ''American Heritage of Invention and Technology,'' volume 5, issue 2[http://www.americanheritage.com/articles/magazine/it/1989/2]</ref><!--Also in Petroski's 1992 book, "The Pencil: A History of Design and Circumstance"---> |
When asked, on his deathbed, whether he had made his peace with God, Thoreau responded, "I did not know we had ever quarreled." | When asked, on his deathbed, whether he had made his peace with God, Thoreau responded, "I did not know we had ever quarreled." | ||
Revision as of 17:40, April 7, 2008
Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) was an American writer and philosopher, and along with Ralph Waldo Emerson, a major figure in the Transcendentalist movement. He is perhaps best known for his book Walden (1854), an account of a two-year period during which he lived in relative solitude near the shores of Walden Pond in Massachusetts, and for Civil Disobedience (1849), an essay which depicts his arrest for refusing to pay a poll tax in 1845 that would support the Mexican-American War and slavery. In A Plea for John Brown (1859) he defended the Harper's Ferry Raid.
His work Civil Disobedience would served as inspiration for Gandhi, Tolstoy and modern civil rights leaders in using non-violent means of protest to further a cause.[1]
Thoreau is sometimes mistakenly thought of as a sort of hermit or vagabond, but in fact he was completely serious about carrying on the family business, a factory producing pencils. He made significant improvements in their manufacture and engineered a machine for grinding "plumbago" (graphite) more finely to produce a higher-quality "lead". Thoreau pencils were regarded as being among the best-manufactured in the U.S.[2]
When asked, on his deathbed, whether he had made his peace with God, Thoreau responded, "I did not know we had ever quarreled."