Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ralph Waldo Emerson

The Project Gutenberg EBook of Ralph Waldo Emerson, by Oliver
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Title: Ralph Waldo Emerson
Author: Oliver Wendell Holmes
Release Date: June 24, 2004 [EBook #12700]
Language: English
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WALDO EMERSON ***

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American Men of Letters
EDITED BY
CHARLES DUDLEY WARNER.
"_Thou wert the morning star among the living, Ere thy fair light had
fled: Now, having died, thou art as Hesperus, giving New splendor to
the dead._"
American Men of Letters
* * * * *
RALPH WALDO EMERSON.
BY
OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES.

1891

NOTE.
My thanks are due to the members of Mr. Emerson's family, and the
other friends who kindly assisted me by lending interesting letters and
furnishing valuable information.
The Index, carefully made by Mr. J.H. Wiggin, was revised and
somewhat abridged by myself.
OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES.
BOSTON, November 25, 1884.

CONTENTS.
* * * * *
INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER I.
1803-1823. To AET. 20.
Birthplace.--Boyhood.--College Life.

CHAPTER II.
1823-1828. AET. 20-25.
Extract from a Letter to a Classmate.--School-Teaching.--Study of
Divinity.--"Approbated" to Preach.--Visit to the South.--Preaching in
Various Places.

CHAPTER III.
1828-1833. AET. 25-30.

Settled as Colleague of Rev. Henry Ware.--Married to Ellen Louisa
Tucker.--Sermon at the Ordination of Rev. H.B. Goodwin.--His
Pastoral and Other Labors.--Emerson and Father Taylor.--Death of Mrs.
Emerson.--Difference of Opinion with some of his
Parishioners.--Sermon Explaining his Views.--Resignation of his
Pastorate.

CHAPTER IV.
1833-1838. AET. 30-35.
Section I. Visit to Europe.--On his Return preaches in Different
Places.--Emerson in the Pulpit.--At Newton.--Fixes his Residence at
Concord.--The Old Manse.--Lectures in Boston.--Lectures on Michael
Angelo and on Milton published in the "North American
Review."--Beginning of the Correspondence with Carlyle.--Letters to
the Rev. James Freeman Clarke.--Republication of "Sartor Resartus."
Section 2. Emerson's Second Marriage.--His New Residence in
Concord.--Historical Address.--Course of Ten Lectures on English
Literature delivered in Boston.--The Concord Battle Hymn.--Preaching
in Concord and East Lexington.--Accounts of his Preaching by Several
Hearers.--A Course of Lectures on the Nature and Ends of
History.--Address on War.--Death of Edward Bliss Emerson.--Death of
Charles Chauncy Emerson.
Section 3. Publication of "Nature."--Outline of this Essay.--Its
Reception.--Address before the Phi Beta Kappa Society

CHAPTER V.
1838-1843. AET. 35-40.
Section 1. Divinity School Address.--Correspondence.--Lectures on

Human Life.--Letters to James Freeman Clarke.--Dartmouth College
Address: Literary Ethics.--Waterville College Address: The Method of
Nature.--Other Addresses: Man the Reformer.--Lecture on the
Times.--The Conservative.--The Transcendentalist.--Boston
"Transcendentalism."--"The Dial."--Brook Farm.
Section 2. First Series of Essays published.--Contents: History,
Self-Reliance, Compensation, Spiritual Laws, Love, Friendship,
Prudence, Heroism, The Over-Soul, Circles, Intellect, Art.--Emerson's
Account of his Mode of Life in a Letter to Carlyle.--Death of
Emerson's Son.--Threnody

CHAPTER VI.
1843-1848. AET. 40-45.
"The Young American."--Address on the Anniversary of the
Emancipation of the Negroes in the British West Indies.--Publication of
the Second Series of Essays.--Contents: The Poet.--Experience.
--Character.--Manners.--Gifts.--Nature.--Politics.--Nominalist and
Realist.--New England Reformers.--Publication of Poems.--Second
Visit to England

CHAPTER VII.
1848-1853. AET. 45-50.
The "Massachusetts Quarterly Review."--Visit to
Europe.--England.--Scotland.--France.--"Representative Men"
published. I. Lives of Great Men. II. Plato; or, the Philosopher; Plato;
New Readings. III. Swedenborg; or, the Mystic. IV. Montaigne; or, the
Skeptic. V. Shakespeare; or, the Poet. VI. Napoleon; or, the Man of the
World. VII. Goethe; or, the Writer.--Contribution to the "Memoirs of
Margaret Fuller Ossoli"

CHAPTER VIII.
1853-1858. AET. 50-55.
Lectures in various Places.--Anti-Slavery Addresses.--Woman. A
Lecture read before the Woman's Rights Convention.--Samuel Hoar.
Speech at Concord.--Publication of "English Traits."--The "Atlantic
Monthly."--The "Saturday Club"

CHAPTER IX
1858-1863. AET. 55-60.
Essay on Persian Poetry.--Speech at the Burns Centennial
Festival.--Letter from Emerson to a Lady.--Tributes to Theodore Parker
and to Thoreau.--Address on the Emancipation
Proclamation.--Publication of "The Conduct of Life." Contents: Fate;
Power; Wealth; Culture; Behavior; Considerations by the Way; Beauty;
Illusions

CHAPTER X.
1863-1868. AET. 60-65.
"Boston Hymn."--"Voluntaries."--Other Poems.--"May-Day and other
Pieces."--"Remarks at the Funeral Services of President
Lincoln."--Essay on Persian Poetry.--Address at a Meeting of the Free
Religious Association.--"Progress of Culture." Address before the Phi
Beta Kappa Society of Harvard University.--Course of Lectures in
Philadelphia.--The Degree of LL.D. conferred upon Emerson by
Harvard University.--"Terminus".

CHAPTER XI.
1868-1873. AET. 65-70.
Lectures on the Natural History of the Intellect.--Publication of
"Society and Solitude." Contents: Society and Solitude.
--Civilization.--Art.--Eloquence.--Domestic Life.--Farming. --Works
and Days.--Books.--Clubs.--Courage.--Success.--Old Age.--Other
Literary Labors.--Visit to California.--Burning of his House, and the
Story of its Rebuilding.--Third Visit to Europe.--His Reception at
Concord on his Return

CHAPTER XII
1873-1878. AET. 70-75.
Publication of "Parnassus."--Emerson Nominated as Candidate for the
Office of Lord Rector of Glasgow University.--Publication of "Letters
and Social Aims." Contents: Poetry and Imagination.--Social
Aims.--Eloquence.--Resources.--The