Books by Ralph Waldo Emerson

With suggestions form influential thinkers and authors, IN PRAISE OF BOOKS can help those who are developing a personal library or reading list.Ralph Waldo Emerson contributed an Atlantic Monthly essay to this volume, in which he recommended his favorite writers and texts. He named Homer, Shakespeare, Herodotus, Dante, Spenser, Bacon, Dickens, and Thackeray as among his most cherished authors. He also listed his three criteria for selecting a book: never read a book that is less than a year old, always read well-known books, and always read topics that one enjoys.Sir John Lubbock also shared his love of books -- "How thankful we ought to be for these inestimable blessings, for this numberless host of friends who never weary, betray, or forsake us!" he wrote -- before recommending the works of Confucius, Aristotle, St. Augustine, Darwin, Goethe, Eliot, and many more. Also included are quotes about reading and books from Socrates ("Employ your time in improving yourself by other men's writings; so you shall come easily by what others have labored hard for"), Niccolo Machiavelli ("I forget every vexation" when reading), Alexander Pope ("At this day, as much company as I have kept, and as much as I love it, I love reading better"), Henry Fielding ("We are as liable to be corrupted by books as by companions"), David Hume ("[I] was seized very early with a passion for literature, which as been the ruling passion of my life"), and other avid readers.

Old as history is, and manifold as are its tragedies, I doubt if any death has caused so much pain to mankind as this has caused, or will cause, on its announcement; and this, not so much because nations are by modern arts brought so closely together, as because of the mysterious hopes and fears which, in the present day, are connected with the name and institutions of America.-from Ralph Waldo Emerson's remarks at Lincoln's funeral, April 19, 1865Here, in one compact volume, is an extraordinary tribute to the life and legacy of one of the greatest presidents in United States history. Abraham Lincoln's (1809-1865) own words stand as powerful testimony to his wisdom and leadership: here you'll find his famous Gettysburg Address, both inaugural addresses, the Emancipation Proclamation, a selection of correspondence, his last public speech, and other notable papers. Also included are:. an 1891 essay by Carl Schurz (1829-1906), a prominent and trusted member of the Lincoln administration, a loving but un-idealized acclamation of the man and his work that delves into the deep sense of morality and prodigious intellect that informed his presidency. a stirring and emotional 1864 defense of Lincoln's prosecution of the Civil War by his friend, poet James Russell Lowell (1819-1891). Ralph Waldo Emerson's (1803-1882) eulogy of Lincoln. poetry in honor of the fallen president by Lowell, John Greenleaf Whittier, Oliver Wendall Holmes, and Walt Whitman.Written by those who knew him, loved him, and witnessed his dramatic impact on United States during its most perilous crisis, this collection offers us the invaluable perspective of his contemporaries and the beginnings of the towering image we have of Abraham Lincoln today.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

An extremely readable survey of the national characteristics, manners and cultural achievements of the English people, written by America's greatest essayist. Contains: First Visit to England, Voyage to England, Land, Race, Ability, Manners, Truth, Character, Cockayne, Wealth, Aristocracy, Universities, Religion, Literature, The Times, Stonehenge, Personal, Result, Speech at Manchester, and a rather brusque final essay in reflection on the national character. (From the author's chapter VIII 'Character'): "The English race are reputed morose. I do not know that they have sadder brows than their neighbors of northern climates. They are sad by comparison with the singing and dancing nations: not sadder, but slow and staid, as finding their joys at home. They, too, believe that where there is no enjoyment of life, there can be no vigor and art in speech or thought; that your merry heart goes all the way, your sad one tires in a mile ."

The essays in this book, first published in 1860, were developed from a series of lectures on "The Conduct of Life" delivered by Emerson during the early 1850s. The published essays show Emerson's interest in many practical aspects of human life, and reflect his increasing involvement in politics during the decade before the Civil War.

Distinguished Emerson scholar Joel Myerson has selected 350 letters written between 1813 and 1880 that best represents the scope of Emerson's correspondence.

With this tenth volume, a project fifty years in the making reaches completion: publication of critically edited texts of all of Emerson's works published in his lifetime and under his supervision. Uncollected Prose Writings is the definitive gathering of previously published prose writings that Emerson left uncollected at the time of his death.

Possibly the most quoted man in American letters, Emerson is represented in most general quote books but this is the first devoted to Emerson alone. Here are 750 quotes arranged by subject so that readers can easily locate the ideas that interest and inspire them.

Ralph Waldo Emerson's 1860 book, "The Conduct of Life" is among the gems of his mature works. It poses the questions of human freedom and fate. This book is edited from the original 1860 edition and annotated to illuminate and trace Emerson's references.

The final volume of the Harvard edition presents the journals of Emerson's last years. In them, he reacts to the changing America of the post-Civil War years, commenting on Reconstruction, immigration, protectionism in trade, and the dangers of huge fortunes in few hands-as well as on baseball and the possibilities of air travel.

The twelfth volume makes available nine of Emerson's lecture notebooks, covering a span of twenty-seven years, from 1835 to 1862, from apprenticeship to fame. These notebooks contain materials Emerson collected for the composition of his lectures, articles, and essays during those years.