Description: Instead of canonizing Thoreau as a celebrant of "pure" nature apart from the corruption of civilization, these essays reveal edgier facets of his work. Contributors from the United States and Europe explore Thoreau's modernity and give a much-needed reassessment of his work in a global context.
Brief description: LAURA DASSOW WALLS is William P. and Hazel B. White Professor of English at the University of Notre Dame.
Review Quotes:
Given the worldwide impact of Thoreau's Walden and 'Civil Disobedience, ' it's hard to believe that there has never been a bona fide gathering of international perspectives on his work and significance. Thoreauvian Modernities handsomely supplies this need, almost on the eve of the bicentennial of his birth.
--Lawrence Buell "Harvard University"