Letters to a Spiritual Seeker [Paperback]

Henry David Thoreau (Author), Bradley P. Dean (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 21, 2005

"With quotable lines on every page, this is an important and affecting addition to the Thoreau shelf." —Booklist

The writing of Henry David Thoreau is as full of life today as it was when he published Walden one hundred years ago. In seeking to understand nature, Thoreau sought to "lead a fresh, simple life with God." In 1848 a seeker named Harrison Blake, yearning for a spiritual life of his own, asked the then-fledgling writer for guidance. The fifty letters that ensued, collected here for the first time in their own volume by Thoreau specialist Bradley P. Dean, are by turns earnest, oracular, witty, playful, practical— and deeply insightful and inspiring, as one would expect from America's best prose stylist and great moral philosopher.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Thoreau's indelible writings on nature, liberty, justice, solitude, and simplicity are infused with spirituality, and, indeed, his entire quest to live an honorable life is a spiritual one, although he didn't overtly characterize it as such. He did, however, directly address matters of the spirit in a remarkable set of 50 letters written to Harrison Gray Otis Blake, an ex-Unitarian minister who initiated their 13-year correspondence in 1848 in his only extant letter. Dean, the Thoreau scholar who rescued Thoreau's magnificent and forgotten Wild Fruits (1999), now gathers together for the first time the American sage's still stirring and relevant spiritual musings and expertly sets them within biographical and historical contexts. Here Thoreau explicates his inclusive view of spirituality born of his intense attentiveness to nature and deep study of both Eastern and Western religious traditions. Here Thoreau, who has a knack for turning everyday activities into striking metaphors, analogies, and allegories, muses provocatively on work, contemplation, and responsibility. With quotable lines on every page, this is an important and affecting addition to the Thoreau shelf. Donna Seaman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

I open this book at random and find daily strength in Thoreau's words that gives me courage. . . .This is a book I keep on my desk as a record of shared faith. (Terry Tempest Williams, author of Leap and The Open Space of Democracy )

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Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company (November 21, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393327566
• ISBN-13: 978-0393327564
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #325,603 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Letters from a Friend, August 20, 2004

By 

Jay Vogelsong (Philadelphia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Letters to a Spiritual Seeker (Hardcover)

I had not previously delved into any collections of Thoreau's correspondence before reading this book, but had only read the occasional quotes from letters in other works. I was surprised to find such a wealth of ideas--thoughts every bit as beautifully expressed and quotable as any in Thoreau's best books. I immediately began underlining favorite passages and discovered over sixty real gems.

H.G.O. Blake and Thoreau carried on an irregular correspondence over thirteen years starting in 1848, and their relationship changed in that time from student/teacher to friends. Editor Bradley Dean does a wonderful job of thoughtfully introducing the correspondence, of providing background information to give context to each letter, and in offering extensive notes to clarify references. The result is a book every bit as enjoyable to read as Walter Harding's annotated Walden. It gives you an intimate look at the brilliant man who many have thought lacked ordinary human feelings. As Edward O. Wilson wrote for the back cover, "In its spontaneity it is the next best thing to personal conversations with the man himself."

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Gem of a Book!, September 12, 2006

By 

Cliffu (Virginia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Letters to a Spiritual Seeker (Paperback)

"Letters to a Spiritual Seeker" by the magnificent Henry David Thoreau is a wonderful and spiritually inspired/inspiring book! I just got it, and it's perfect for dipping into for Thoreau's deep and moving insights. Bradley P. Dean's footnotes are excellent and very helpful, and I am grateful for the effort he has put into making these letters available to us.

One of my favorite and profoundly thought-provoking letters is the one where he speaks about a muskrat's den he found (during his wanderings) in an analogy for understanding how so much "doing" is necessary for arriving at a little bit of "being" in this world. There is something realistic but consoling at the same time in reading that letter. The book is worth getting just for this letter alone!

Although he wrote in the 19th century, many of his deeper ideas are still valid and very spiritually nourishing, and this book makes me want to read Thoreau's other writings.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Beacon to All Seekers, April 15, 2009

By 

Nate (Colorado) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Letters to a Spiritual Seeker (Paperback)

As always, Thoreau's words are as poignant today as they were 150 years ago. His musings on life and the purpose of it are a beacon to all seekers. His critique of society's ills continue to ring true - though society and culture have changed dramatically since his time, the nature of mankind has essentially stayed the same; the social, cultural, political, and financial challenges we face today are much the same and are a result of our slow evolution. Thoreau provides insight into the core of these issues.