The Essential Writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson

Mary Oliver introduces The Essential Writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson, a definitive collection of his major speeches, essays, and poetry. The book chronicles the life’s work of Emerson, who is considered a true "American Scholar" and one of the architects of the transcendentalist movement. Emerson's philosophy championed the individual, emphasized independent thought, and prized "the splendid labyrinth of one’s own perceptions."

Emerson's writing style was distinct from his European predecessors and embodied what it meant to be an American. As Matthew Arnold once said, Emerson’s essays were “the most important work done in prose.” This collection includes commentary by Henry James, Robert Frost, Matthew Arnold, Oliver Wendell Holmes, and Henry David Thoreau.

The Essential Writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson also includes a Modern Library reading group guide. This book provides a comprehensive insight into the profound and influential work of Emerson and is a must-read for those interested in American literature and philosophy.

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