The Quotable Thoreau
(Princeton University Press, 2011)
Few writers are more quotable than Henry David Thoreau. His books, essays, journals, poems, letters, and unpublished manuscripts contain an inexhaustible treasure of epigrams and witticisms, from the famous ("The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation") to the obscure ("Who are the estranged? Two friends explaining") and the surprising ("I would exchange my immortality for a glass of small beer this hot weather").
The Quotable Thoreau, the most comprehensive and authoritative collection of Thoreau quotations ever assembled, gathers more than 2,000 memorable passages from this iconoclastic American author, social reformer, environmentalist, and self-reliant thinker. Including Thoreau's thoughts on topics ranging from sex to solitude, manners to miracles, government to God, life to death, and everything in between, the book captures Thoreau's profundity as well as his humor ("If misery loves company, misery has company enough"). Drawn primarily from The Writings of Henry D. Thoreau, published by Princeton University Press.
The Quotable Thoreau is thematically arranged, fully indexed, richly illustrated, and thoroughly documented. For the student of Thoreau, it will be invaluable. For those who think they know Thoreau, it will be a revelation. And for the reader seeking sheer pleasure, it will be a joy.
The Quotable Thoreau, the most comprehensive and authoritative collection of Thoreau quotations ever assembled, gathers more than 2,000 memorable passages from this iconoclastic American author, social reformer, environmentalist, and self-reliant thinker. Including Thoreau's thoughts on topics ranging from sex to solitude, manners to miracles, government to God, life to death, and everything in between, the book captures Thoreau's profundity as well as his humor ("If misery loves company, misery has company enough"). Drawn primarily from The Writings of Henry D. Thoreau, published by Princeton University Press.
The Quotable Thoreau is thematically arranged, fully indexed, richly illustrated, and thoroughly documented. For the student of Thoreau, it will be invaluable. For those who think they know Thoreau, it will be a revelation. And for the reader seeking sheer pleasure, it will be a joy.
- Over 2,000 quotations on more than 150 subjects
- Richly illustrated with historic photographs and drawings
- Thoreau on himself and his contemporaries
- Thoreau's contemporaries on Thoreau
- Biographical time line
- Appendix of misquotations and misattributions
- Fully indexed
- Suggestions for further reading
What people are saying...
"It is hard to name any American writer more quotable than Thoreau. This is a book that his many readers and admirers will want to read, browse, and return to."—William E. Cain, Wellesley College
“This volume will appeal to both casual, browsing readers and to researchers needing an authoritative source on the words of Thoreau.”—H.E. Green, Choice
“pocket-sized masterpiece of treasures”—M. Chris Johnson, Portland Book Review
"This quotable book is a handy guide and should find its way onto the shelves of any library. . . But given its price at under $20, it should be on the shelf of every American."—Mark Y. Herring, American Reference Books Annual
“Cramer’s volume bears a special kind of authority that other recent collections of Thoreau quotations do not have. . . this volume is bound to stand the test of time.”—Rochelle L. Johnson, College of Idaho, Review 19
"The Quotable Thoreau is not meant to be read at all at once. It should, rather, be savored bit by bit for maximum engagement . . . Readers would be well advised to digest a page or two each day, consider the passages, and accept or reject them according to preference."—Jeffrey Mifflin, Historical Journal of Massachusetts