Emerson and Thoreau: Figures of Friendship (American Philosophy) [Paperback]

John T. Lysaker (Editor), William Rossi (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 4, 2010 | Series: American Philosophy

This lively volume explores the theme of friendship in the lives and works of Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. Written from diverse perspectives, the essays offer close readings of selected texts and draw on letters and journals to offer a comprehensive view of how Emerson's and Thoreau's friendships took root and bolstered their individual political, social, and ethical projects. This collection explores how Emerson and Thoreau, in their own ways, conceived of friendship as the creation of shared meaning in light of personal differences, tragedy and loss, and changing life circumstances. Emerson and Thoreau presents important reflections on the role of friendship in the lives of individuals and in global culture.

(2011)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Emerson, Thoreau, and the Transcendentalists had a lot more to say about friendship than is generally thought, and this is a good point of departure for these new readings." —Robert F. Sayre, University of Iowa

(Robert F. Sayre, University of Iowa 2010)

"Addresses an issue—friendship—that is of crucial importance to the ethical and social visions of Emerson and Thoreau." —James M. Albrecht, Pacific Lutheran University

(James M. Albrecht, Pacific Lutheran University 2010)

Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson, the two giants of American transcendentalism, enjoyed a friendship that was both positive and negative. They had mutual intellectual interests, liked and admired each other, and shared many of life experiences. But their friendship was also challenged by personal rivalries, disappointments, and misunderstandings--which is to say that their friendship mirrored the friendships that many experience. Lysaker (philosophy, Univ. of Oregon) and Rossi (English, Univ. of Oregon) believe that by studying Thoreau and Emerson's unique friendship and also their writing on the subject of friendship one can learn much about the mysterious and sometimes contradictory elements that tie all humans in friendship. Released in the 'American Philosophy' series, this book comprises nine essays by scholars from a variety of disciplines, including philosophy, English, education, and religion. Divided into four sections--'Transcendental Contexts,' 'Emerson's "Friendship,"' 'Thoreau's Divergent Melodies,' and 'Giving Friendship for Life'--the essays interpret various aspects and characteristics of the bond that the two men shared. Close examination of their written essays, letters, and journals does in fact enrich understanding of what the two men experienced. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty. -- ChoiceP. J. Ferlazzo, Northern Arizona University, September 2010

(P. J. Ferlazzo, Northern Arizona University )

"Emerson & Thoreau: Figures of Friendship... offers compelling biographical background on [Emerson and Thoreau's] famous friendship, as well as insightful scholarship on their main writings about friendship: Emerson's essay 'Friendship,' and the 'Wednesday' section of Thoreau's A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers (1849).... The book's aspiration is to be that rare hybrid: an academic work urgent enough to change a reader's life.... In both Emerson and Thoreau's thinking, friendship is indispensable in bringing about our better selves: our flourishing cannot occur without the challenges and opportunities for growth our friends provide us." —Scott Parker, Philosophy Now, #80 2010

(Scott Parker Philosophy Now )

"Lysaker and Rossi believe that by studying Thoreau and Emerson's unique friendship and also their writing on the subject of friendship one can learn much about the mysterious and sometimes contradictory elements that tie all humans in friendship.... Close examination of their written essays, letters, and journals does in fact enrich understanding of what the two men experienced.... Recommended." —Choice

(Choice )

"In their new book, John T. Lysaker and William Rossi have assembled a set of excellent scholarly essays that situate Emerson and Thoreau in the tradition of Western thinking about friendship stretching from Plato to Derrida." —Times Literary Supplement

(Times Literary Supplement )

"This thought-provoking collection offers valuable insights not only about Emerson and Thoreau but also about the ways in which their views of friendship resonate today." —The New England Quarterly

(The New England Quarterly )

"[T]his splendid volume... is a substantial contribution to our understanding of the friendship between Emerson and Thoreau, and of nineteenth century literary culture more generally." —Emerson Society Papers, Vol. 22.1 Spring 2011

(Emerson Society Papers )

"Emerson & Thoreau rises above the rest in that it sheds light not only on ideas but on the human interests that imbue them sometimes with beauty, occasionally with virtue, and too often with tragedy." —The Pluralist, V.6.2 Summer 2011

(The Pluralist )

About the Author

John T. Lysaker is Professor and Head of Philosophy at the University of Oregon. He is author of Emerson and Self-Culture (IUP, 2008).

William Rossi is Associate Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies in English at the University of Oregon. He is editor of Walden and Resistance to Civil Government and several volumes of Thoreau's works, including Walden, Civil Disobedience, and Other Writings and Journal, volumes 3 and 6.

Product Details

• Paperback: 222 pages
• Publisher: Indiana University Press (January 4, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0253221439
• ISBN-13: 978-0253221438
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,859,207 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WHAT ENDURES, March 17, 2010

By 

John N. Currie - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Emerson and Thoreau: Figures of Friendship (American Philosophy) (Paperback)

This pleasant critical study of friendship in the lives and works of Emerson and Thoreau will have appeal for readers whether they are specialists in American Studies, or if they are simply readers who carry an abiding appreciation for these two challenging writers, or if they are those who wish to explore friendship in the company of some philosophical minds. While the critical essays seek to illuminate how Thoreau and Emerson wrote about friendship and lived as friends to one another and others, in doing so the collection also shows how far Emerson and Thoreau pushed frontiers to affirm the value of friendship without overlooking how it can be illusory or even a source of great pain.The best audience for this book, however, should not be only Emersonians and Thoreauvians; the audience should be those who have cultivated and still nurture long-term bonds with others who are near at hand and seen frequently or with those who maintain friendships over distances through letters or the Internet. Because the book has in fact a wider appeal, I believe the publishers might have reprinted within this volume's bindings Emerson's essay "Friendship" and Thoreau's section "Wednesday" from his "A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers." Additionally the book's presentation needs to be improved so that the book as an object in the hand has a friendlier "feel." Probably in our present economic times, university presses are as hard hit as any of us. Indiana University Press, the book's editors, and its contributors should be applauded for this successful and meaningful contribution to a topic that has both broad and specialized appeal.