Thoreau in His Own Time: A Biographical Chronicle of His Life, Drawn from Recollections, Interviews, and Memoirs by Family, Friends, and Associates

[Promoting Thoreau, 1846–1855]

[23] UT [Promoting Thoreau, 1846–1855] Horace Greeley Originally from New Hampshire, editor and political reformer Horace Greeley (1811–1872) came to New York in 1831. Ten years later, he founded and edited the New York Tribune, one of the most influential newspapers of its day, and in whose editorials he promoted a range of liberal and reform causes. He and Thoreau met in 1843; thereafter Greeley became an important promoter of Thoreau’s authorship. Not only did he note forthcoming lectures and review books on publication, but Greeley also acted as Thoreau’s literary agent with various periodical editors, including Rufus Griswold, George Rex Graham, George Palmer Putnam, and George William Curtis. His reviews of A Week and Walden drew attention to both. In numerous letters to Thoreau over the years, Greeley exhibits promotional zeal and offers unsolicited advice along with expressing frustration with what clearly seemed to him, at times, Thoreau’s overly principled stand on not making editorial changes to suit public taste. In 1855 and 1856, Greeley tried to persuade Thoreau to move to New York and tutor his children, but Thoreau ultimately declined the offer. Unlike others who knew Thoreau as well as he did, Greeley left no sustained record of his thoughts on Thoreau—as a writer or friend. To Henry D. Thoreau, 16 August 1846 Believe me when I say that I mean to do the errand you have asked of me, and that soon. But I am not sanguine of success, and have hardly a hope that it will be immediate if ever. I hardly know a soul that could publish your article all at once, and “To be continued” are words shunned like a pestilence. But I know you have written a good thing about Carlyle—too solidly good, I fear, to be profitable to yourself or attractive to publishers . Didst thou ever, O my friend! ponder on the significance and cogency of the assurance, “Ye cannot serve God and Mammon,” as applicable to Literature—applicable, indeed, to all things whatsoever. God grant us grace to endeavor to serve Him rather than Mammon—that ought to suffice thoreau in his own time [24] us. In my poor judgment, if any thing is calculated to make a scoundrel of an honest man, writing to sell is that very particular thing. To Henry D. Thoreau, 5 February 1847 . . . Your article is this moment in type, and will appear about the 20th inst. as the leading article in Graham’s Mag. for next month. Now don’t object to this, nor be unreasonably sensitive at the delay. It is immensely more important to you that the article should appear thus (that is, if you have any literary aspirations,) than it is that you should make a few dollars by issuing it in some other way. As to lecturing, you have been at perfect liberty to deliver it as a lecture a hundred times if you had chosen—the more the better. It is really a good thing, and I will see that Graham pays you fairly for it. But its appearance there is worth far more to you than money. I know there has been too much delay, and have done my best to obviate it. But I could not. A Magazine that pays, and which it is desirable to be known as a contributor to, is always crowded with articles, and has to postpone some for others of even less merit. I do this myself with good things that I am not required to pay for. Thoreau, do not think hard of Graham. Do not try to stop the publication of your article. It is best as it is. . . . To Henry D. Thoreau, 17 April 1848 I enclose you $25 for your article on Maine Scenery, as promised. I know it is worth more though I have not yet found time to read it; but I have tried once to sell it without success. It is rather long for my columns and too fine for the million; but I consider it a cheap bargain, and shall print it myself if I do not dispose of it to better advantage. You will not of course consider yourself under any sort of obligation to me, for my offer was in the way of business and I have got more than the worth of my money. Send me a line acknowledging the receipt of the money, and say if all is right between us. . . . If...