Ralph Waldo Emerson: Selected Essays, Lectures and Poems

A new, wide-ranging selection of Ralph Waldo Emerson's most influential writings, this edition captures the essence of American Transcendentalism and illustrates the breadth of one of America's greatest philosophers and poets. The writings featured here show Emerson as a protester against social conformity, a lover of nature, an activist for the rights of women and slaves, and a poet of great sensitivity. As explored in this volume, Emersonian thought is a unique blend of belief in individual freedom and in humility before the power of nature. "I become a transparent eyeball," Emerson wrote in Nature, "I am nothing; I see all; the currents of the Universal Being circulate through me; I am part or particle of God." Written over a century ago, this passage is a striking example of the passion and originality of Emerson's ideas, which continue to serve as a spiritual center and an ideological base for modern thought.

Ralph Waldo Emerson was born in Boston, Massachusetts in

Ralph Waldo Emerson was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1803. A self-proclaimed "Naturalist," Emerson founded a dist1803. A self-proclaimed "Naturalist," Emerson founded a distinctly American philosophy emphasizing optimism, individualiinctly American philosophy emphasizing optimism, individuality, and mysticism. In the 1840's, his essays, speeches, and ty, and mysticism. In the 1840's, his essays, speeches, and poetry defined him as a central character in the Trancendentpoetry defined him as a central character in the Trancendental

The writings featured here show Emerson as a protester against social conformity, a lover of nature, an activist for the rights of women and slaves, and a poet of great sensitivity. As explored in this volume, Emersonian thought is a unique blend of belief in individual freedom and in humility before the power of nature. "I become a transparent eyeball," Emerson wrote in Nature, "I am nothing; I see all; the currents of the Universal Being circulate through me; I am part or parcel of God." Written over a century ago, this passage is a striking example of the passion and originality of Emerson's ideas, which continue to serve as a spiritual center and an ideological base for modern thought. Featured here are seminal works such as Nature, "Self-Reliance," "The Over-Soul," and early essays and lectures such as the "Cherokee Letter" and "Pray Without Ceasing." This collection also offers Emerson's most important poetry, including "The Sphinx" and "Days."

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