Contemporary Notices and Reviews of 
Walden; or, Life in the Woods
_______

"Book Notices"
The State Capital reporter [Concord, NH] (2 September 1854): p. 2, col. 5

"Walden: or, Life in the Woods." This work, written by Henry D. Thoreau, and published by Messrs. Ticknor & Fields, of Boston, a few weeks since, is one of sterling literary merit. It has the merit of originality. The author does his own thinking, and uses his own style of expression, which is appropriate, vigorous and beautiful. "Walden" has in it the essential elements of a grand Poem of life spent in the solitude of forests and beside beautiful waters. It is a poem in all except the rhythmical arrangement of its words. The author writes in the fullness of the inspiration of genius, and has stored every age of his work with thoughts, as well as words. A pond of water, a bean-field, and a fight between two species of ants in a door-yard, would not be reckoned by the heedless world as matters of much importance, but the thinking, observing and poetic mind of the author of "Walden," sees much in them, and has found in them themes for pages of most fascinating description. We have wondered at the acuteness of observation manifested by the writer, who seemed to see and hear everything in the world of nature around him, and which faculty seems equalled [sic] by his power of expressing, with intelligibility, his ideas thus obtained by observation. The scene of this work is in the woods on Concord, Mass., upon the shores of Walden pond, where, for two years and upwards, the author dwelt in a house built by his own hands, supporting himself by his own labor, and who chose this retiracy that he might the better commune with Nature in her own solitary retreats. 

This work will bear reading—indeed, we doubt, if many will be able by a single perusal to gain a full conception of its beauties. It can be found at any of the bookstores here, we presume.

Return to Henry D. Thoreau: Works: Walden
Return to Henry D. Thoreau: Works: Walden: Contemporary Notices and Reviews
Return to Henry D. Thoreau: Life & Writings

• Report errors to the Curator of Collections