In this Book
- A Political Companion to Henry David Thoreau
- Book
- 2009
- Published by: The University Press of Kentucky
- Series: Political Companions to Great American Authors
The writings of Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) have captivated scholars, activists, and ecologists for more than a century. Less attention has been paid, however, to the author's political philosophy and its influence on American public life. Although Thoreau's doctrine of civil disobedience has long since become a touchstone of world history, the greater part of his political legacy has been overlooked. With a resurgence of interest in recent years, A Political Companion to Henry David Thoreau is the first volume focused exclusively on Thoreau's ethical and political thought.
Jack Turner illuminates the unexamined aspects of Thoreau's political life and writings. Combining both new and classic essays, this book offers a fresh and comprehensive understanding of Thoreau's politics, and includes discussions of subjects ranging from his democratic individualism to the political relevance of his intellectual eccentricity. The collection consists of works by sixteen prominent political theorists and includes an extended bibliography on Thoreau's politics. A Political Companion to Henry David Thoreau is a landmark reference for anyone seeking a better understanding of Thoreau's complex political philosophy.
Table of Contents
- Title page/Copyright page
- pp. i-iv
- Series Foreword
- pp. vii-viii
- Acknowledgments
- p. ix
- Part I
- Part II
- Chapter 4: Thoreau’s American Founding
- pp. 99-123
- Chapter 5: Thoreau, Prophecy, and Politics
- pp. 124-150
- Chapter 6: Thoreau and John Brown
- pp. 151-177
- Chapter 7: Thoreau and Lincoln
- pp. 178-204
- Part III
- Chapter 9: Thoreau on Body and Soul
- pp. 229-255
- Chapter 10: Thoreau’s Religion
- pp. 256-293
- Chapter 11: Thoreau’s Techniques of Self
- pp. 294-325
- Chapter 12: Thoreau’s Solitude
- pp. 326-338
- Part IV
- Selected Bibliography
- pp. 447-451
- Contributors
- pp. 453-455