Full Description
As we approach the bicentennial, in 2017, of the birth of Henry David Thoreau, there is considerable debate and confusion as to what he may, or may not have, contributed to American life and culture. Almost every American has heard of Thoreau, but only a few are aware that he was deeply engaged with most of the important issues of his day, from slavery to "Manifest Destiny" and the rights of the individual in a democratic society. Many of these issues are still affecting us today, as we move toward the second quarter of the twenty-first century. By studying how various American artists have chosen to portray Thoreau over the years since the publication of Walden in 1854, we can gain a clear understanding of how he has been interpreted (or misinterpreted) throughout the years since his death in 1862. But along the way, we might also find something useful, for our times, in the insights that Thoreau gained as he wrestled with the most urgent problems being experienced by American society in his day.
Contents
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Chapter One: Images of Thoreau from His Own Lifetime (1817-1862)
Chapter Two: Thoreau's Memory Kept Alive by a Few Friends (1862-1917)
Chapter Three: Thoreau Starts his Rise to Prominence (1917-1939)
Chapter Four: Thoreau Takes Center Stage (1940-1967)
Chapter Five: Multiple Visions of Thoreau (1968-Present)
Epilogue
Appendix A: Checklist of Thoreau Images (1854-2013)
Appendix B: Timeline of Key Events in the Development of Thoreau's Reputation
Bibliography
Illustration Credits
About the Author
