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The Portable Emerson Paperback – December 30, 2014

by Ralph Waldo Emerson (Author), Jeffrey S. Cramer (Editor, Contributor)

4.5 72 ratings

Part of: Portable Library (19 books)

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A comprehensive collection of writings by “the most influential writer of the nineteenth century” (Harold Bloom)

Ralph Waldo Emerson’s diverse body of work has done more than perhaps any other thinker to shape and define the American mind. Literary giants including Henry David Thoreau, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Walt Whitman were among Emerson’s admirers and protégés, while his central text, Nature, singlehandedly engendered an entire spiritual and intellectual movement in transcendentalism. This long-awaited update—the first in more than thirty years—presents the core of Emerson’s writings, including Nature and The American Scholar, along with revelatory journal entries, letters, poetry, and a sermon.

For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

Part of series

Portable Library
Print length

752 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Penguin Publishing Group
Publication date

December 30, 2014
Dimensions

7.76 x 5.08 x 1.5 inches
ISBN-10

0143107461
ISBN-13

978-0143107460
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882) was an essayist, poet, philosopher, lecturer, and abolitionist whose ideas championed the importance of individualism and nature.

Jeffrey S. Cramer is the Curator of Collections at the Thoreau Institute at Walden Woods. He is the editor of the award-winning Walden: A Fully Annotated Edition, The Quotable Thoreau, among other books. He lives in Maynard, Massachusetts.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Publishing Group; Annotated edition (December 30, 2014)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 752 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0143107461
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0143107460
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.61 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.76 x 5.08 x 1.5 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #749,815 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #97 in Transcendentalism Philosophy
- #1,000 in American Fiction Anthologies
- #2,716 in Essays (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.5 72 ratings

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There are few people as quoted and quotable as Ralph Waldo Emerson, founder of the transcendental movement and author of classic essays as Self-Reliance, Nature, and The American Scholar. Emerson began his career as a Unitarian minister and later put those oratory skills to move us toward a better society. More remains written on him than by him.
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4.5 out of 5

72 global ratings

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Michael A. Lloyd

An inspiring classic

Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2014

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Ralph Waldo Emerson is an iconic figure in American history. Now that I have grown older, I am able to appreciate him more and more. His essays, in particular are extremely inspiring and well written, and the philosophy resonated with me. I read all and enjoyed all the speeches in the collection, but many modern readers probably will not be as interested; the essays should be read first. (Though the eulogy for Thoreau is well worth reading by anybody who has read Thoreau.) The poems...well, they are out of date, in my opinion.. The collection itself is a classic; Malcolm Cowley, who compiled the anthology, was a major literary figure himself in the early 20th Century. (PS: I would have rated it far more than stars, if I could.)

2 people found this helpful

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Rachel Rosinski

very nice

Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2019

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nice book, came in mail quickly, good quality

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Ed Barton

Philosopher, Poet, Psychologist

Reviewed in the United States on April 21, 2013

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This version of the Portable Emerson, as edited by Carl Bode (there are a couple of editions), provides the reader with an excellent cross-section of Emerson's works. Containing nearly 700 pages, the book will introduce you to Emerson-the man and the philosophical thinker. One of the fathers of Transcendentalism, his views of society and nature are as valid toay as they were 175 years ago. His insights into some of the great men of history (Plato and Napoleon are included in this volume) as well as the English people have a wit and wisdom that is characteristic of his writings. The philosophies brought forth in essays such as "Nature", "Transcendentalist" and "Spiritual Laws" provide great insights into Emerson's world view. His poetry and letters, contained at the end of the volume, introduce the reader more fully to the politics and creative mind of this unique American mind. A good introduction to Emerson.

7 people found this helpful

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Cindy1210

The Portable Emerson

Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2013

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If you love Emerson, you will love this paperback of his memorable works. Easy to carry and a wonderful book to carry while traveling.

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Roger Carrier

Emerson, the Great Sage

Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2007

Note: Your "helpful" votes are appreciated. Thanks. A couple Mormon readers have given me negative marks because of my reviews of books in defense of the Book of Mormon. Oh, well, I write my reviews for fun and as a little hobby.

Most educated people are familiar with Emerson's epigrams of wisdom, but there is a whole world to explore in his essays and poems. "The Portable Emerson" gives the reader an excellent overview of Emerson's major works.

Emerson's comments in the "American Scholar" about his own time place our age in perspective:

"Our age is bewailed as the age of introversion. Must that needs be evil. We, it seems, are critical; we are embarrassed with second thoughts; we cannot enjoy any thing for hankering to know whereof the pleasure consists; we are lined with eyes; we see with our feet; the time is infected with Hamlet's unhappiness,--
'Sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought.'"

I hope you find something you like in my little review. Here is part of "The Problem," a poem:

I like a church; I like a cowl; (cowl: a monk's hooded cloak)
I love a prophet of the soul;
And on my heart monastic aisles
Fall like sweet strains, or pensive smiles;
Yet not for all his faith can see
Would I that cowled churchman be.

A poem: "The Rhodora: On Being Asked, Whence Is The Flower?"

"Tell them, dear, that if eyes were made for seeing,
Then Beauty is its own excuse for being."

"Merlin," a poem:

"But mount to paradise
By the stairway of surprise."

And always remember the "Concord Hymn" (sung on July 4, 1837 at the dedication of the monument at Concord). Today near the bridge, there are some British flags to mark the graves of two of the King's soldiers. There are some neat unidentified lines that might have come from Emerson.

"Here lie two British soldiers who sailed three thousand miles across the ocean to keep the past upon the throne."

"By the rude bridge that arched the flood,
Their flag to April's breeze unfurled,
Here once the embattled farmers stood
And fired the shot heard round the world."

One person found this helpful

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C. Middleton

A Man of Great Intellect and Heart

Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2008

After scanning through and thinking about the works of Marcus Aurilius, another philosopher came to mind, the 19th century lecturer, essayist and Trancendentalist, R.W. Emerson. There are certainly connections between these two great thinkers', however the space provided here is limited and therefore would be a disservice. This particular edition of The Portable Emerson is full of gems, including essays on "The American Scholar", "History" and my particular favourite, excerpts from his journals a letters.

Emerson was a prolific journal writer, where can be found the seeds to his insight into life and the plight of the human being.

Many years ago I read, Emerson: The Mind on Fire (Centennial Books) by Robert D. Richardson JR., a true masterpiece in the genre of biography and a labour of love. It is in this bioraphy one can capture Emerson's mind and great heart. (More than likely my favourite biography of all time.)

This volume, (A Portable Emerson) is filled with essays, poems and lectures that reveals a man who incessantly sought the truth, and attempted and succeeded through his many lectures across the eastern American coast.

Evidently he was a persuasive lecturer motivating thousands of Americans -which is a true gift.

One of my favourite quotes from this volume:

"Make the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you."

A man who loved the world and contributed to its betterment.

One person found this helpful

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I Like a good read!

JOY!

Reviewed in the United States on March 23, 2001

Every Emerson volume is 'a good read'. Unlike some other readers, I love English Traits, maybe because I am English. Emerson is a joy, everyone should read him, at least once.

3 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Ingmar Bergman’s bastard son

Publishers, o publishers…

Reviewed in Germany on March 26, 2024

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The cover looks and feels nice. The book is very handy and has a comprehensive selection of Emerson’s writings to offer. But the paper quality is not as good as in the old penguin books, and the paper is a little thicker and blank white (it was printed in Poland). The font is big enough but also not evenly dark-printed. For this price, it is okay, but it is also somewhat disappointing that publishers are saving money wherever they can.

Milazzo

Immortal Emerson

Reviewed in Italy on September 9, 2021

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Emerson is always worth reading, despite his long-winded sentences typical of the period he lived in. Often one has to be patient, stop and reread what has just been said which has a tendency to get lost when so much is crowded in a very long period. However, much of his outlook, of what he insists on, is still perfectly valid nowadays and even if you dont agree totally with his views on society, on reading, on human relationships, they are always highly stimulating.
Penguin has unfortunately tried to cram as much text as possible in one fat portable volume, but I think it would have been better to suppress one or two of the less interesting texts and print less crowded pages which are always more pleasant to read. As it is, the compact text is not attractive and one finds it difficult to insert a few personal notes in the very narrow margins. This is why I only give four stars to this most interesting book.

Nivedita Sood

Excellent book!

Reviewed in India on June 9, 2021

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A very profound collection of the author’s work

Jo Rowe

An amazing book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 22, 2015

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I am delighted with this purchase. The quality of the paper and the print is extremely good and the content seems very complete. I have only recently become aware of RWE and having just briefly flicked through, found something relevant on every page. It would definitely be my "Desert Island" book choice. I am looking forward to many hours perusing the thoughts and writings within this book.

5 people found this helpful

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The Portable Emerson Paperback – December 30, 2014

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