Essential Thoreau CD [Abridged, Audiobook] [Audio CD]

Henry David Thoreau (Author), Archibald Macleish (Reader)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 3, 2009

One Great Author. One Great CD.

"'What are you doing now?' he asked. 'Do you keep a journal?' So I make my first entry today."

With these words, in response to prodding from Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau embarked on a writing enterprise—his Journal—that occupied him continuously over the entire period of his literary career, from 1837 to 1862. In one sense Thoreau's Journal is his greatest achievement as a writer, the remarkable record of a remarkable man's view of the world. Ranging in topic from entries titled "Young Women at Parties" to "Sunlight after Storm", the Journal is neither diary nor autobiography in the usual meaning of these terms, because the daily chronicle and the narrative of outward events are minor aspects of this voluminous work. The Journal is clearly not the work of a diarist, but the notebook of a writer dedicated to the continuous practice of composition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Henry David Thoreau was born in 1817 in Concord, Massachusetts. He spent time as a school teacher after attending Harvard College but was dismissed for his refusal to administer corporal punishment. In 1845, wanting to write his first book, he moved to Walden Pond and built his cabin on land owned by Ralph Waldo Emerson. It was during his time at Walden that Thoreau was imprisoned briefly for not paying taxes; this experience became the basis for his well-known essay "Civil Disobedience." He died of tuberculosis in 1862 at the age of 44.

From AudioFile

Listening to ESSENTIAL THOREAU is like listening to a rap artist's remixed version of an old song. The familiar song, while recognizable, is greatly altered to suit the new musician's style. American poet Archibald MacLeish, who died in 1982, reads excerpts from Thoreau's journals as if he were reciting lines of lyrical odes. The sentences flow with a song-like feel and pace, and it's tempting to stop paying attention to Thoreau's observations and instead tune into the lilting rhythm of MacLeish's reading. The performance of this work would have been improved had MacLeish varied his pace more and lingered longer over more of Thoreau's words. Too often MacLeish's attention to the musicality of Thoreau's writing overpowers the ideas behind them. R.L.G. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Caedmon; Abridged edition (March 3, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061720968
• ISBN-13: 978-0061720963
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 4.9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #692,340 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An audio presentation of selected passages from the journal of great American philosopher and nature lover Henry David Thoreau, April 14, 2009

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Essential Thoreau CD (Audio CD)

Essential Thoreau: Excerpts from the Journal of Henry David Thoreau is an audio presentation of selected passages from the journal of great American philosopher, author, and nature lover Henry David Thoreau, which he started writing at the insistence of his colleague Ralph Waldo Emerson. Thoreau kept the journal during the course of his literary career, from 1837 to 1862; the entries chosen to be read aloud range from "Young Women at Parties" to "Sunlight after Storm". Far from a standard diary or autobiography, Essential Thoreau gives a glimpse into the mind of a great writer, and is a worthy contribution to public library audiobook shelves. 1 CD, 1 hour.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must have for Thoreau fans!, March 5, 2009

By 

Jennifer Kline (Arizona) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Essential Thoreau CD (Audio CD)

If you are a big Thoreau fan like I am, you will greatly enjoy this audio CD. Excerpts from his journal are brought to life on CD. The narrator does an excellent, excellent job. This is a great CD to listen to from start to finish.

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic literature..., October 21, 2009

By 

Rick Sheridan "AudioColumn.com" (Xenia, Ohio) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Essential Thoreau CD (Audio CD)

Most people have heard of Henry David Thoreau, but do not realize that he is one of the top authors in American history. This audio focuses on the detailed journal Thoreau kept from 1837 to 1862. His diary entries range from eclectic short stories to his continual attempts to improve his writing style. During this time Thoreau moved to Walden Pond and built his cabin on land owned by Ralph Waldo Emerson. He eventually wrote his well-known essay "Civil Disobedience." [...]