Letters and Social Aims

Nature together with his landmark talks, including The American Scholar (1837), the Harvard speech hailed as America's intellectual declaration of independence, and the Divinity School Address that shocked Boston.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Seven lectures from 1850 on the figures Emerson saw as models of humanity: Plato, Swedenborg, Montaigne, Shakespeare, Napoleon and Goethe. He asks what each of them can teach the rest of us.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Emerson's portrait of the English, drawn from his trips to Britain in 1833 and 1847. He writes about their character, wealth, universities and religion, and about his visits to Carlyle, Coleridge and Wordsworth.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Emerson's most practical book, from 1860. Nine essays on fate, power, wealth, culture and beauty that turn his philosophy into advice on how to live well.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Twelve essays from 1870 on everyday life: books, farming, clubs, courage, success and old age. Emerson at his most relaxed and conversational.

Ralph Waldo Emerson