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The Adventures of Henry Thoreau: A Young Man's Unlikely Path to Walden Pond Hardcover – February 18, 2014

4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 119 ratings

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Henry David Thoreau has long been an intellectual icon and folk hero. In this strikingly original profile, Michael Sims reveals how the bookish, quirky young man who kept quitting jobs evolved into the patron saint of environmentalism and nonviolent activism.

Working from nineteenth-century letters and diaries by Thoreau's family, friends, and students, Sims charts Henry's course from his time at Harvard through the years he spent living in a cabin beside Walden Pond in Concord, Massachusetts.

Sims uncovers a previously hidden Thoreau-the rowdy boy reminiscent of Tom Sawyer, the sarcastic college iconoclast, the devoted son who kept imitating his beloved older brother's choices in life. Thoreau was deeply influenced by his parents-his father owned a pencil factory in Concord, his mother was an abolitionist and social activist-and by Ralph Waldo Emerson, his frequent mentor. Sims relates intimate, telling moments in Thoreau's daily life-in Emerson's library; teaching his neighbor and friend, Nathaniel Hawthorne, to row a boat; exploring the natural world and Native American culture; tutoring Emerson's nephew on Staten Island and walking the streets of New York in the hope of launching a writing career.

Returned from New York, Thoreau approached Emerson to ask if he could build a cabin on his mentor's land on the shores of Walden Pond, anticipating the isolation would galvanize his thoughts and actions. That it did. While at the cabin, he wrote his first book,
A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers, and refined the journal entries that formed the core of Walden. Resisting what he felt were unfair taxes, he spent the night in jail that led to his celebrated essay “Civil Disobedience,” which would inspire the likes of Gandhi and Martin Luther King.

Chronicling Thoreau's youthful transformation, Sims reveals how this decade would resonate over the rest of his life, and thereafter throughout American literature and history.

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Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

It’s the boy who loved to walk in the woods, ice skate, and sing, and the ardent reader who studied the classics at Harvard and nature’s wonders with equal diligence that Sims (The Story of Charlotte’s Web, 2011) brings forward in this surpassingly vivid and vital chronicle of Thoreau’s formative years. Exceptionally smart, peculiar looking, imaginative, and upright, Thoreau, who craved both solitude and conversation, was surrounded by people, including his mentor Ralph Waldo Emerson, who, like him, chronicled their daily lives, providing Sims with a great bounty of primary sources. As Sims portrays a solemn boy nicknamed “the Judge,” we gain fresh understanding of Thoreau’s choices and convictions on his way to becoming a seminal environmentalist and civil-disobedience guru. We see Thoreau quit a teaching job in protest against corporal punishment and go to jail rather than pay his poll tax, suffer heartbreak and tragedy, accidentally burn down the woods near his beloved Walden Pond, experience an epiphany in Maine, build his famous cabin, and turn himself into a world-altering writer who continues to enlighten and astonish us. --Donna Seaman

Review

“Sims creates a sensuous natural environment in which to appreciate his subject.” ―Kirkus Reviews

“[A] surpassingly vivid and vital chronicle of Thoreau's formative years. As Sims portrays a solemn boy nicknamed “the Judge,” we gain fresh understanding of Thoreau's choices and convictions on his way to becoming a seminal environmentalist and civil-disobedience guru.” ―
Booklist

“[A] lively biography...Nature lovers will revel in the vivid descriptions of Thoreau's adventures and mishaps, from playing the flute to a mouse, to boat trips on the Concord river...Sims explores the development of a bookish and sometimes prickly young man into the icon he is today.” ―
Financial Times

“An amiable and fresh take on the legendary sage of Walden Pond…an animated portrait. Sims has once again proven himself to be a distinctive writer on the subjects of human nature and humans in nature.” ―
Bookpage

“An affectionate and lively recreation of the world that surrounded [Thoreau].” ―
Christian Science Monitor, picked as one of the 10 Best Books of February

“I confess I picked up this biography not because of a burning interest in Thoreau . . . but because I loved Michael Sims' previous book about E. B. White and the writing of Charlotte's Web. Sims made White's youthful world of 1920s New York come alive and he does the same thing here for Thoreau's Concord. . . .
The Adventures of Henry Thoreau is a rich, entertaining testament to the triumph of a young man who never comfortably fit in, but who made a place for himself, nonetheless.” ―Maureen Corrigan, Fresh Air

“A well-researched and richly detailed portrait… The Henry David Thoreau portrayed here is no 'marble bust of an icon.' He's restless, prickly and possessed of a relentless intellectual curiosity--a complex, fully realized human being. With this picture in mind, anyone who admires Thoreau's life and work will view him with fresh eye.” ―
Shelf Awareness

“Sims offers intriguing sidelights and memorable details. . . [he] helps us to see Thoreau as a colorful, crotchety human being.” ―
Washington Post

“Sims gracefully captures what he calls Thoreau's 'ecstatic response to nature.'” ―
Wall Street Journal

“[A] highly readable book...draws from an impressively broad range of early writings from those who knew Thoreau personally, and the result is indeed a very human "Henry" as opposed to, as Sims notes, "a marble bust of an icon."” ―
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bloomsbury USA; 1st edition (February 18, 2014)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 384 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1620401959
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1620401958
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.25 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.15 x 1.29 x 8.44 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 119 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
119 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and enjoyable. They appreciate the insights into history and the time period provided. Readers describe Thoreau as a human character with an interesting personality. The writing quality is excellent and researched. The nature content is appreciated by nature lovers. However, some customers found the reading pace slow and tedious.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

20 customers mention "Readability"20 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and enjoyable. They recommend it to readers interested in history and the Transcendental movement.

"...The result? More voices telling the story, and some new connections made. Nice!..." Read more

"...Very interesting!" Read more

"...I enjoyed the book very much...." Read more

"I enjoyed this book and recommend it to readers interested in history, the Transcendental movement, daily life in Concord, ecology and, of course,..." Read more

13 customers mention "History"13 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's historical insights. They find it provides a nice history lesson and an understanding of that time period. Readers appreciate the well-researched work that includes intricate details and references not found elsewhere. The book focuses on Thoreau's biography and personality, setting him in Concord and his time.

"...context than is found in some previous biographies, and he includes intricate details that have not previously surfaced...." Read more

"Lots of history here, a history of people whose names have been household words in many circles, not just the life of Henry David Thoreau...." Read more

"Not very well written, or organized.but lots of interestinh facts ...however, many facts made into footnotes should have been included within the text" Read more

"...I enjoyed the book very much. It really takes you back to a former time and makes you feel what it was like to live in the 1800's in the Concord..." Read more

8 customers mention "Character development"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the character development engaging and human. They appreciate the clear writing and depiction of Thoreau's early life. The book makes Thoreau seem more real, with its portrayal of his early years.

"...I found Thoreau to be such an interesting character, and plan to read Walden next." Read more

"...Recommended for its fun and human portrait of the younger Thoreau and for the clear writing." Read more

"...us into the day-to-day world of Thoreau and gives us a fresh sense of his personality amid the community of Concord." Read more

"I didn't know much about HDT, so this was a good look at his early life." Read more

5 customers mention "Writing quality"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's writing quality. They praise the author's work and find the descriptions of Thoeau's early life beautiful.

"...Sims also writes with a Thoreauvian flourish, casually weaving in some of Henry's own turns of phrase...." Read more

"...for its fun and human portrait of the younger Thoreau and for the clear writing." Read more

"...Thank you Michael Sims for your excellently written and researched work." Read more

"the author is good..." Read more

3 customers mention "Nature content"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's nature content. They mention it's for nature lovers, hikers, bird watchers, and campers. Readers also mention Henry Thoreau and ecology.

"...in history, the Transcendental movement, daily life in Concord, ecology and, of course, Henry Thoreau...." Read more

"...like I was there with him as he experienced the land and contemplated nature and mankind." Read more

"...Nature lovers, hikers, bird watchers, campers. You can learn so much from just being in and with nature" Read more

3 customers mention "Reading pace"0 positive3 negative

Customers find the book's reading pace slow and tedious.

"...The presentation was slow at points, but I could not stop reading to see how things were going to development. It left me with wanting to know more." Read more

"Interesting book but very slow reading. Really gives one a viewpoint of what life was like in that time period." Read more

"...I found the book very tedious reading and even though I wanted to know more about Thoreau I did not finish it...." Read more

Engaging and accessible
5 out of 5 stars
Engaging and accessible
The author brought the young Thoreau to life, and captured the essence of the milieu.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2014
    ... with the help of terrific insights, like the ones Michael Sims offers us here. There's nothing like a new Thoreau biography to re-introduce our favorite author-naturalist to another population. And veteran Thoreauvians are entertained as well, because it gives them new material to chew on and to debate.

    Yes, quite a few Thoreau biographies already exist. In the beginning they were written by Henry's friends, as a way of honoring and remembering him. Then a few fans at the turn of the last century (and on both sides of the Atlantic) took on the task of adding to and refining the information, because they could still ask crucial questions of those few remaining people of Concord who had once known Henry. During the WWII years, the literary scholars joined the crowd; and they set the standard for many decades. Today we hear a diversity of voices, from a variety of sources -- many of them, from those folks who encountered Thoreau in high school or in college in the 1960s-1970s-1980s. Like Michael Sims. (Like me.)

    We all have our own personal versions of Henry. For Sims, he's forever young and vital. The focus here is on the first 30 years of Henry's life: up until the time that he leaves Walden Pond in 1847. He paints the picture of a highly sensitive man who is curious about the behaviors of both Nature and mankind. Someone who wants to be at least a little successful at being a writer, but who encounters difficulties in getting published. Included are naturally the usual stories and the near-myths of Henry's life -- abruptly resigning after teaching only two weeks at a public school; becoming devastated by his brother John's death; accidentally setting the woods on fire; moving to Walden Pond; spending a night in jail for non-payment of the poll tax, etc. etc. etc. To those who know or who have read a lot about Thoreau, many stories will be familiar. Some won't. All of them are told in a fresh, new style. Sims also adds more context than is found in some previous biographies, and he includes intricate details that have not previously surfaced. He also adds more references to Nathaniel Hawthorne and Edgar Allan Poe than most people do. The result? More voices telling the story, and some new connections made. Nice!

    Sims also writes with a Thoreauvian flourish, casually weaving in some of Henry's own turns of phrase. His narrative will have the most savvy readers nodding and smiling and thinking, Ahhh, I know why he said it this way. These pages will also set a few devoted fans and accomplished scholars who are approaching any "new" facts to scratching their heads, saying "Wait -- what? No! Really? Are you sure about this?" (He had me scrambling to my stash of reference books on more than one occasion.) The answer is, Yes. And he's got all of the documentation to back up his facts. He did original research. This book isn't a mere rehash of the old stuff.

    Sure, Sims may have overlooked or omitted a few aspects or incidents that will surprise readers. For example: he glosses over the fact that Thoreau taught himself surveying and took on jobs marking many local property lines around Concord, beyond his initial scrutiny of Walden Pond's depth and borders. The author may not have had a chance to read Patrick Chura's Thoreau the Land Surveyor before finishing this manuscript. (This ground-breaking book isn't included in the bibliography.) And of course, this narrative doesn't touch much on the last 14 years of Henry's life. Only one final chapter serves to summarize "the rest of the story."

    This book is highly recommended: not only for Thoreauvians, but also for the general public and certainly for libraries of all kinds, including public and college libraries. (Don't dare weed out Harding and Richardson! Just put Sims next to those guys.) Thanks to writers like Michael Sims, we're learning even more about our old friend Henry Thoreau. Someday we may know it ALL.

    Corinne H. Smith, author of Westward I Go Free: Tracing Thoreau's Last Journey
    13 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2014
    Lots of history here, a history of people whose names have been household words in many circles, not just the life of Henry David Thoreau. A branch of my family hails from New England, though not Maine, and the history helps me understand some of my family traits. Had I not learned of the continuing impact of Thoreau's quiet work, both in science and literature, I would have never suspected such a quiet but restless, unassuming person could achieve such greatness. Very interesting!
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2015
    Not very well written, or organized.but lots of interestinh facts ...however, many facts made into footnotes should have been included within the text
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2014
    I didn't know much about Thoreau, but saw the author on TV and wanted to learn more. I enjoyed the book very much. It really takes you back to a former time and makes you feel what it was like to live in the 1800's in the Concord area. I found Thoreau to be such an interesting character, and plan to read Walden next.
    8 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2017
    This writer presented everything I had hoped for, and more. I have now returned to my protracted reading of Walden with answers and insights that before were lacking. How Thoreau finally arrived for his seasons at Walden Pond now makes sense.
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2014
    I occasionally teach Thoreau, and originally bought this in the hope of getting some anecdotes to help engage my students. But when I started reading I was quickly hooked. Academically solid, this book reads quickly and lightly. I purchased the Whispersync recorded version, and read it through in the equivalent of three sittings. (I enjoyed it so much that I and would have done it in one had I not been grading papers.)

    Recommended for its fun and human portrait of the younger Thoreau and for the clear writing.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on November 30, 2014
    Enjoyed the research done to give the picture of how Henry Thoreau evolved into his literary and social beliefs. Amazing how the history, the issues of the social and cultural developments and family relationships gave the basis for his life and writings. The presentation was slow at points, but I could not stop reading to see how things were going to development. It left me with wanting to know more.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2014
    I enjoyed this book and recommend it to readers interested in history, the Transcendental movement, daily life in Concord, ecology and, of course, Henry Thoreau. In Michael Sims' portrayal, homely, ordinary, somewhat eccentric Henry becomes a sympathetic, fascinating character. The descriptions of Henry's explorations, his family life, his experiences as a teacher and writer, and his friendships with neighbors are compelling. The Adventures of Henry Thoreau by Michael Sims is a worthwhile, joyful read.
    9 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • BALAGOPAL
    4.0 out of 5 stars A close-up view of Thoreau's Concord.
    Reviewed in India on August 20, 2022
    Began reading the book. Opens a new world of Thoreau's life and times.
  • stuke
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 5, 2014
    Great item, well packaged and swiftly sent. Thank you!!
  • michael hennessy
    4.0 out of 5 stars Very good book
    Reviewed in Germany on October 6, 2014
    Anyone who is interested in American History will love this book. Written in a clear and easy to read format