Henry David Thoreau | Brief Biography
Henry David Thoreau | Brief Biography
Henry David Thoreau (July 12, 1817 – May 6, 1862) was an American writer, philosopher, and naturalist, who is best known for his book “Walden,” which reflects on his experiences living a simple life in nature. Thoreau was born in Concord, Massachusetts and grew up in a family with a strong tradition of social activism.
He was a complex and multifaceted individual, with interests in a wide range of subjects including literature, science, nature, and politics. He was a graduate of Harvard College and went on to teach school for several years before deciding to dedicate himself full-time to writing and exploring the natural world.
One of his most famous works is his book “Walden,” which was published in 1854. This book is a reflection on Thoreau’s two-year experiment in simple living at Walden Pond, near Concord, Massachusetts. In “Walden,” Thoreau reflects on the lessons he learned from living close to nature, and how this experience helped him to gain a deeper appreciation for the simple things in life. The book is considered one of the most important works of American literature and is widely read and studied today.
He was also a passionate abolitionist and was deeply involved in the movement to end slavery in America. He was a strong advocate of civil disobedience and was famously imprisoned for a night in 1846 for refusing to pay his poll tax in protest against the Mexican-American War and the institution of slavery. This experience led him to write his famous essay “Civil Disobedience,” which is considered one of the most important works of political philosophy in American history.
In addition to his writing and activism, Thoreau was also a skilled naturalist and botanist and was known for his extensive knowledge of the plants and wildlife of Concord. He spent much of his life exploring the woods and wetlands around his home and made many important observations about the natural world.
Thoreau died at the age of 44, after contracting tuberculosis. Despite his relatively short life, his writing and activism have had a profound impact on American culture and literature, and he remains one of the most important figures in American history. 0 0 0.
Sources:
“Walden” by Henry David T (1854)
“Civil Disobedience” by Henry David Thoreau (1849)
“Henry David T: A Life” by Laura Dassow Walls (2017)
“The Cambridge Companion to Henry David T” edited by Joel Myerson (1995)
“A Political Life” by Nancy L. Rosenblum (2017) ***
