Poems and Essays

More about the book

Essays and Poems, by Ralph Waldo Emerson, is part of the Barnes & Noble Classics series, which offers quality editions at affordable prices. This edition features new introductions from contemporary writers and scholars, author biographies, chronologies of historical events, and footnotes. It includes discussions of various works inspired by Emerson, comments from other notable authors, and study questions to provoke thought. Beautifully designed and printed to high standards, some editions even feature historical illustrations. As America sought its unique identity, thinkers like Emerson emerged, shaping the American transcendentalist movement. He championed independence of thought and spirit, advocating for a life in harmony with nature and a rejection of conformity. Emerson believed that Truth resides within each individual, connecting them to a universal “over-soul.” His prolific output includes major works such as Nature, and essays like “Self-Reliance” and “The American Scholar,” along with significant poems like “The Rhodora” and “Concord Hymn.” This edition also includes a comprehensive glossary of names. Peter Norberg, an expert in New England transcendentalism, has contributed to this edition and is currently writing a history of Emerson’s public lecturing career.