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Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Emerson: Essays and Lectures: Nature: Addresses and Lectures / Essays: First and Second Series / Representative Men / English Traits / The Conduct of Life (Library of America) Hardcover – November 15, 1983

by Ralph Waldo Emerson (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 220 ratings
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Our most eloquent champion of individualism, Emerson acknowledges at the same time the countervailing pressures of society in American life. Even as he extols what he called “the great and crescive self,” he dramatizes and records its vicissitudes.

Here are all the indispensable and most renowned works, including “The American Scholar” (“our intellectual Declaration of Independence,” as Oliver Wendell Holmes called it), “The Divinity School Address,” considered atheistic by many of his listeners, the summons to “Self-Reliance,” along with the more embattled realizations of “Circles” and, especially, “Experience.” Here, too, are his wide-ranging portraits of Montaigne, Shakespeare, and other “representative men,” and his astute observations on the habits, lives, and prospects of the English and American people.

This volume includes Emerson’s well-known Nature; Addresses, and Lectures (1849), his Essays: First Series (1841) and Essays: Second Series (1844), plus Representative Men (1850), English Traits (1856), and his later book of essays, The Conduct of Life (1860). These are the works that established Emerson’s colossal reputation in America and found him admirers abroad as diverse as Carlyle, Nietzsche, and Proust. The reasons for Emerson’s influence and durability will be obvious to any reader who follows the exhilarating, exploratory movements of his mind in this uniquely full gathering of his work.

Not merely another selection of his essays, this volume includes all his major books in their rich entirety. No other volume conveys so comprehensively the exhilaration and exploratory energy of perhaps America’s greatest writer.

LIBRARY OF AMERICA is an independent nonprofit cultural organization founded in 1979 to preserve our nation’s literary heritage by publishing, and keeping permanently in print, America’s best and most significant writing. The Library of America series includes more than 300 volumes to date, authoritative editions that average 1,000 pages in length, feature cloth covers, sewn bindings, and ribbon markers, and are printed on premium acid-free paper that will last for centuries.
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  1. Print length
    1150 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Library of America
  4. Publication date
    November 15, 1983
  5. Dimensions
    5 x 1.38 x 8.1 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    9780940450158
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0940450158
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

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“The Emerson who speaks to us through these essays understood America as few have done before or since. By nature a dualistic thinker, he fully realized the polarities of American experience—between action and reflection, self-reliance and community, unity and diversity, idealism and materialism, past and future…. In doing so, he tried to forge a new identity for the new representative American—serene, self-confident, democratic, progressive and pluralistic.” —St. Petersburg Times

From the Publisher

The Library of America is an award-winning, nonprofit program dedicated to publishing America's best and most significant writing in handsome, enduring volumes, featuring authoritative texts. Hailed as "the most important book-publishing project in the nation's history" (Newsweek), this acclaimed series is restoring America's literary heritage in "the finest-looking, longest-lasting edition ever made" (New Republic).

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0940450151
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Library of America (November 15, 1983)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 1150 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780940450158
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0940450158
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.59 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 1.38 x 8.1 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 220 ratings

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Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ralph Waldo Emerson

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There are few people as quoted and quotable as Ralph Waldo Emerson, founder of the transcendental movement and author of classic essays as Self-Reliance, Nature, and The American Scholar. Emerson began his career as a Unitarian minister and later put those oratory skills to move us toward a better society. More remains written on him than by him.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
220 global ratings
Good quality edition
4 Stars
Good quality edition
Sturdy and good quality of materials.Very thin paper but it's ok for me.Some genius thought it was a good idea to put a sticker on the front.
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Top reviews from the United States

D. R. Greenfield
5.0 out of 5 stars Well worth owning
Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2020
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This is a very nice edition. It's bound well, with excellent typography, not a typo anywhere, the type is in a good size, the paper is good quality, and there is even a ribbon bookmark sewn in. So why read Emerson? Well, he was one-of-a-kind, he was far ahead of his time for the most part, and he had a great way with words. At the same time, he was deeply flawed. His infatuation with strong, charismatic leaders (like Napoleon) makes him out to be a kind of crypto-fascist. He came somewhat late to the abolitionist cause. He was also somewhat of an elitist. Some of the essays and lectures are tiresome to read, but there are some real gems. In particular, I adored the opening series of lectures on Nature. The other great lecture from the first section is The Conservative. This is a very profound work, and it has altered the way I think of the conservative-vs-liberal dialectic. The essays on History, on Self-Reliance, and on Compensation are classics. Emerson does not currently command the respect he once did in a simpler time. The writing will exhaust and tire you if you try to take it in large doses. I don't believe Emerson was ever meant to be taken in large doses. His writing is too heady; his way of expressing himself too mannered and affected. Nevertheless, in small doses, reading about five pages a day, he is a fascinating companion, even though you certainly won't agree with him on everything.
21 people found this helpful
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Abi
5.0 out of 5 stars Great!
Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2024
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Thomas Lapins
5.0 out of 5 stars Emerson's prose are pure poetry and brilliance
Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2004
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Emerson is to the literary world in America as Lincoln was to the political world in the 1860's. His stature as a thinker, writer and public figure to admire brought American literature to new heights.

I think Thoreau has more relevance to us in the year 2004, and had profounder insights, but Emerson, more the academic and intellectual, wrote with the elegance and intelligence of the gods. He was much superior to Thoreau in style and breadth of subject matter, he was more well-rounded and able to connect with his peers, both personally and as an author. And through this intimate friendship and association shared by Emerson and Thoreau, and any literary and intellectual comparison made between these two men, only serves to enhance and expand the other's significance and genius. For me there was an integration and balance, a synergy, almost a partnership, in how they contributed to American literature and the intellectual community.

This collection is a beautiful addition to my library. It contains Emerson's major essays e.g. 'Nature,' 'Beauty,' 'Compensation,' 'Self-Reliance,' and 'The Poet' and his public addresses e.g. 'The American Scholar,' (a big favorite of mine.)

This is a quality collection at a reasonable price. I was actually concerned that the quality might suffer because I thought the price so low. But it was not compromised. Both Emerson and this collection should be in your library. Highly recommended.
48 people found this helpful
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Chris Cirrincione
5.0 out of 5 stars American soul
Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2023
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When I was 16-years-old, I was introduced to Thoreau's "Walden" and identified myself with his rebellious rhetoric. Now, at 41 years of age, I wanted something more substantial to read and just successfully completed Emerson's Essays and Lectures. I see why Emerson was Thoreau's mentor; Emerson had more life experience and probably had a better command of the English language than anyone else alive at the time in the United States. In this book, Emerson expounds upon basically every topic imaginable. I found the most interesting section of the book to be
"English Traits," which gives homage to the superiority of the British people at the time he wrote this--somewhat surprising but nonetheless interesting. Needless to say, his essays on Nature are extraordinary and inspirational. Emerson embodies the American soul of the 19th century better than any author!
4 people found this helpful
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drohan00
5.0 out of 5 stars The philosophical underpinnings of the United States.
Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2014
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This volume contains all the lectures and essays of the great transcendentalist writer/philosopher/poet Ralph Waldo Emerson. And what volume it is. Nearly all the New England poets and writers of the 19th Century were influenced heavily by this man. His fluidity of prose, and the heavy ideas expressed give one an understanding of the American ideal. What we are as a nation culturally really stems mostly from the thoughts and compositions of this master.

His writings on nature is authoritative of the romantic ideal, yet it reads like poetry. His writings are little drops of gold that enrich as you go. What sets Emerson apart in my estimation is that the aphorisms are built into the writing itself. You get the little bits and pieces of wisdom as you go. Which is great for all modern readers. If you don't have time to read a long essay all at once, you can break it up, and still get lasting value for your time.

All who want to understand Americanism need to read Emerson. Special kudos to Library of America for keeping works like this in print for all to read.
5 people found this helpful
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Carlos Fajardo
4.0 out of 5 stars Good quality edition
Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2024
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Sturdy and good quality of materials.
Very thin paper but it's ok for me.
Some genius thought it was a good idea to put a sticker on the front.
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Carlos Fajardo
4.0 out of 5 stars Good quality edition
Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2024
Sturdy and good quality of materials.
Very thin paper but it's ok for me.
Some genius thought it was a good idea to put a sticker on the front.
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MATT
5.0 out of 5 stars Finest Quality
Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2014
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I now have several of these Library of America volumes and I love them. This one is no different. They are beautifully bound in various colors of fabric (uniform colored dust covers) with matching ribbon book mark. The binding is solid and durable. The pages are of a fine quality, print is a nice font. The collections within each volume are logical, complimentary, and often comprehensive of a particular author's type of work (e.g. collected poems, essays). These original works were written in english, so translation is not an issue. Editting has been accurate. As these are the works of the original authors, the true value of these volumes are in the works collected and the presentation. For any price, you could not be more pleased. However, because they are so well made, you can find excellent condition used versions for unbelievable prices. If you purchase books to own for your personal library, these will be a treasure on so many levels.
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Top reviews from other countries

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Resistance Historian
5.0 out of 5 stars Camus and Monod endure The Liberation of France
Reviewed in Canada on February 16, 2023
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There are few well timed and detailed writings about WWII than this.
The writer has blended the details of the overall historic facts of the War with the clear lives of these two men struggling through their survival of five years of unimaginable hell.
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Diego Carvalho
5.0 out of 5 stars Excelente !!
Reviewed in Brazil on October 15, 2022
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Excelente, a maior seleção de ensaios e outros textos de Emerson disponível no mercado. A edição é excelente, usam papel antiácido, ou seja, vai durar pra sempre.
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FALCUSEN
5.0 out of 5 stars magnifico
Reviewed in Mexico on August 1, 2020
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soberbia obra y material para el espiritu
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Marlow
5.0 out of 5 stars Gran edición
Reviewed in Spain on January 10, 2019
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Un placer leer a Emerson. Como siempre, una fantástica edición de Library of America.
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Ankita s
5.0 out of 5 stars A beautifully made book.
Reviewed in India on February 23, 2020
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Good hardcover version, good pages. Emerson is unparalleled. One of the most memorable non- fiction works in the world. Emersonian prose is extraordinarily beautiful to read, sedate to reflect upon and sharp in sensibility. He reminds us what a luxury literature is.
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