English Traits [Paperback]

Ralph Waldo Emerson (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1410201805 | ISBN-13: 978-1410201805 | Publication Date: September 5, 2002

An extremely readable survey of the national characteristics, manners and cultural achievements of the English people, written by America's greatest essayist. Contains: First Visit to England, Voyage to England, Land, Race, Ability, Manners, Truth, Character, Cockayne, Wealth, Aristocracy, Universities, Religion, Literature, The Times, Stonehenge, Personal, Result, Speech at Manchester, and a rather brusque final essay in reflection on the national character. (From the author's chapter VIII 'Character'): "The English race are reputed morose. I do not know that they have sadder brows than their neighbors of northern climates. They are sad by comparison with the singing and dancing nations: not sadder, but slow and staid, as finding their joys at home. They, too, believe that where there is no enjoyment of life, there can be no vigor and art in speech or thought; that your merry heart goes all the way, your sad one tires in a mile ."

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The book has no equal in its kind. It is the wittiest work of America's wittiest writer."
-- Mark van Doren, American Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, writer, and critic

 

"A book all full of thoughts like winged arrows." -- Thomas Carlyle, satirical writer, essayist, historian

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From the Publisher

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 300 pages
• Publisher: University Press of the Pacific (September 5, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1410201805
• ISBN-13: 978-1410201805
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,042,628 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

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

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Worthwhile for Emersonians and Some Others, April 20, 2010

By 

Bill R. Moore (New York, USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: English Traits (Paperback)

English Traits does not equal Ralph Waldo Emerson's essays but has much that is worthwhile for Emersonians and several things that may attract others. Emerson trains his mesmerizing prose and piercing insight on England and the English from nearly every angle - not his most interesting or original subject but nonetheless intriguing. This is highly recommended for anyone interested in the subject, and Emersonians should come here after the more famous works.

Emerson's thoroughness is impressive; his examination is so detailed that it is near-ethnographic. However, the book begins on a personal note, detailing his first trip to England just after he resigned his pulpit when he was unknown, had published nothing, and was unsure what to do. He recounts eminently absorbing visits with luminaries like Wordsworth, Coleridge, and Carlyle that anyone interested in them or the era will relish. These first-hand accounts have significant historical value, letting us see a side of these major figures that is rarely mentioned - not least because Emerson is as honest as ever and does not spare them. This section is so worthy that its brevity is regrettable; Emerson declines to describe visits to landmarks or his initial impressions of England and the English, perhaps because he had changed so much.

Next comes a fairly detailed history and description of the English "race" that is notable mainly for historical context. Much of it has been disproved or highly questioned, and it is far from politically correct by today's standards, but this makes it all the more interesting. Anyone wondering how a representative mid-nineteenth century Anglo-American saw the land of his ancestors need look no further.

Some may find this trying, but I encourage them to persevere, because the bulk of the book is far more interesting; Emerson examines his subject much as he had done with abstract ones like self-reliance, experience, and love. He begins with a basic rundown of England itself: historical, geographical, economic, etc. Emerson also looks at English institutions like the church, colleges, etc.; his most interesting observations here are about the class system, particularly the upper class, and the political system. He describes them on their own terms and in contrast to other countries, including of course America. This has merit, but several seemingly obligatory topics are unfortunately missing. Emerson says almost nothing about royalty and, a fascinating Stonehenge section excepted, neglects to treat landmarks. He also mentions in passing meeting many notables - Dickens, Tennyson, Thackeray, etc. - out of which notable anecdotes could surely have been made. In any case, though, the real meat is his analysis of the English people, including topics like manners, character, speech, and habits. Emerson was a keen observer, and his foreign status gave a perspective the English could not have had, yielding many noteworthy insights.

Perhaps surprisingly, given that Emerson was arguably the first truly American writer, vigorously urged cultural independence, and otherwise preached self-reliance and originality, he reveals himself to be a pretty thorough Anglophile. Maybe this should not surprise; he was after all a New Englander of English stock, and England was the world's most powerful nation. It is indeed generally hard to deny the basic truth of even his most rhapsodic compliments, but current readers - especially Americans - may grow frustrated and impatient with his constant glowing descriptions. He has also been recently taken to task for what some see as a sort of unintentional racism. However, those willing to continue will see that he eventually gives substantial criticism, particularly in regard to religion and literature; he also lambastes England's general conservatism, zeroing in on several specific abuses. All told, his honesty and willingness to criticize were quite remarkable and in many ways as instructive as ever.

Such a book would generally be of little more than historical interest, but Emerson's ever-strong writing raises it; anyone alive to his style will find much to love. Perhaps more importantly, it now has considerable value for a reason probably no one could have foreseen - mid-nineteenth century England was in essentially the same position as present-day America. It was the world's most powerful nation, the military and economic superpower whose culture and language had global influence. Emerson was clearly in awe as few could help being but also deft in noticing that England was near its apex or had already passed it; great as it was, the future did not belong to it. He vividly describes how many centuries-old institutions were rapidly crumbling and prophetically notes that England would become more and more like America, to whom the future belonged. This came to pass, perhaps letting blue blood Americans annoyed by the Anglophile aspect breathe a proverbial sigh of relief - or even have a laugh at England's expanse. In truth, though, they should be more cautious, because the book has much to teach them. Many traits then dominant in England - arrogance, insularity, disregard for outside opinion - are now preeminent in America, and America may fall from the top just as England did if not careful. A close reading of this may go a long way toward preventing that, and Emersonians will want the book in any case. Like all geniuses, Emerson both epitomized and was ahead of his time; full of subtleties beneath an already appealing surface, this is an overlooked exemplar of that Emersonian paradox.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pre-Inflation, July 26, 2004

By 

Brian Davidson (Chicago, Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: English Traits (Paperback)

These days, celebrity authors earn thousands of dollars for a speech, but back in the 1880s, Ralph Waldo Emerson, the first American author known to receive payment for delivering a talk, was paid $5 and oats for his horse.