'A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.' Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 - 1882) was an American essayist and poet. One of the young nation's first recognised public intellectuals, he championed the writing of Henry David Thoreau and Walt Whitman and opined on everything from the evils of slavery to the glories of solitude. His essays such as Self-Reliance argued for a distinctly American style of philosophical individualism, untethered to hidebound traditions and prejudices. Edited by professor David Mikics (The Annotated Emerson) and enhanced with gorgeous woodcuts by Charles W. Smith, this collection of Emerson's essays and poetry is a beautiful introduction to one of America's greatest writers and thinkers.

Ralph Waldo Emerson was an American essayist, poet, philosopher, pastor, lecturer, and public figure. During his life, he was one of the most prominent thinkers and writers in the United States with his work remaining influential today. In the late 19th century, after the death of Benjamin Franklin, it was Emerson who filled the role of thinker, motivator, and spiritual guide for the American nation. While he was the mentor and friend of Henry David Thoreau, he was viewed by most liberals of his generation as their spiritual leader. The admiration was well deserved: he was the first thinker to formulate the philosophy of transcendentalism. Emerson’s writings influenced the work of Friedrich Nietzsche, Maurice Maeterlinck, Charles Baudelaire, and Leo Tolstoy. Poems of Youth and Early Manhood Poems, 1847 May-Day and Other Pieces Elements and Mottoes Quatrains Fragments Uncollected Poems Translations The Poems Essays. First Series Essays, Second Series Representative Men

Ralph Waldo Emerson, the greatest of the Transcendentalists, is often considered to be the central thinker in American history. In essays such as "Self-Reliance" and poems such as "Concord Hymn," he gave voice to ideals that Americans have held dear ever since. Critical Companion to Ralph Waldo Emerson is a reliable and up-to-date resource for students interested in this prolific author. This illustrated volume examines Emerson's life and 140 of his most important works, including all of his major essays and 60 of his poems. Coverage includes: A concise but thorough biography Entries on major books; lectures; essays, such as "Self-Reliance," "Nature," and "The Over-Soul"; poems, such as "Concord Hymn," "Brahma," and "Merlin"; and more Entries on related people, places, and topics, including Henry David Thoreau, Concord, the Transcendental Club, Unitarianism, the Dial, and more Appendixes, including a chronology of Emerson's life, a bibliography of his works, and primary and secondary sources.