Walden Pond is a sublime place of peace and spirituality. Writer and
philosopher Henry David Thoreau built a one-room house in 1845 and lived
on the shores of the pond for two years, two months, and two days. It is
this experiment in independent living that draws millions of people to
visit the pond and to pay homage to the man sometimes called the father
of American conservation. Situated in woodland outside the town of
Concord, the pond and the town itself also evoke history on a grand
scale. The Revolutionary War and the literary revolution of the
mid-nineteenth century both began in the area.
Thoreau's Walden describes the beauty of this historical setting through
the writings of Thoreau. The book uses many of his most captivating and
inspiring quotations as a tribute to the man and his life, works, and
philosophy. Beautiful images and descriptive historical writing combine
to create a visual insight into the reasons why Thoreau lived at Walden
and what he has to teach us about this most inspirational place.
Thoreau's Walden also includes little-known facts about the writer and
philosopher, including the stories behind his relationship with Ralph
Waldo Emerson, his search for the perfect location for his experiment,
and his many visitors, such as Nathaniel Hawthorne and the Alcott
family.