Henry Thoreau As Remembered by a Young Friend

Rating:
Summary: An interesting view of Thoreau's life
Review: Since this book was written by Edward Waldo Emerson, son of Ralph Waldo Emerson, he was obviously familiar with his subject. Henry David Thoreau spent time living in the Emerson house and was the substitute head of the household several times when Edward's father was out of town. He entertained the children and was remembered fondly by the young people of Concord. Here Edward includes those memories with his own and with excerpts from Thoreau's journal.

While these facts and quotes are valid, they don't paint a complete biography of the man. Some of the incidents make sense only to the savvy reader who already has a Thoreauvian background. And only the first 50 pages are text; the remaining 30 consist of expansive footnotes. If you want to glean the full story, you'll have to constantly page back and forth. Yes, it's a worthwhile view that comes from a friend, but it's not the best or most detailed chronicle. An optional read.

Rating:
Summary: An interesting view of Thoreau's life
Review: Since this book was written by Edward Waldo Emerson, son of Ralph Waldo Emerson, he was obviously familiar with his subject. Henry David Thoreau spent time living in the Emerson house and was the substitute head of the household several times when Edward's father was out of town. He entertained the children and was remembered fondly by the young people of Concord. Here Edward includes those memories with his own and with excerpts from Thoreau's journal.

While these facts and quotes are valid, they don't paint a complete biography of the man. Some of the incidents make sense only to the savvy reader who already has a Thoreauvian background. And only the first 50 pages are text; the remaining 30 consist of expansive footnotes. If you want to glean the full story, you'll have to constantly page back and forth. Yes, it's a worthwhile view that comes from a friend, but it's not the best or most detailed chronicle. An optional read.

Rating:
Summary: Another angle
Review: This book is a glowing account of Thoreau's character, written later in life by Ralph Waldo Emerson's son Edward. Edward knew Thoreau up until the latter's death in 1862, when Edward was about 17. He has supplemented his own memory with interviews and anectdotes given him by other Concord citizens who knew the Thoreau family. These writings are a valuable resource for anyone who is researching Thoreau, with its humanizing slant and defence of its subject against perceived misunderstandings by the public. Any Thoreau fan will find this brief tract illuminating and amusing.