Book description
The reading of Emerson on the Over-Soul, on the Law of Compensation, on
the relationship between man and nature, on first principles and moral
courage, self-realization, has had a formative influence on many
readers. Often they first encounter his work by chance, but on reading
him have gradually become confirmed Emersonians in their outlook. In the
quiet of the Old Manse at Concord, Emerson could reflect at leisure and
stretch the great wings of his imaginative insight. He gave substance to
those things which, though aware of, we find difficult to match with
words. Nature was Emerson's first published work and already there is
evident Emerson's 'characteristic signature affirmation.' Emerson called
his generation back to the primary conditions of man, to the 'insistent
now of individual experience.' Emerson would feel a stranger in our
world. Yet part dreamer, part realist, he is with us still, 'touching
the very well springs of our moral courage' as a reading of The Conduct
of Life will show, with its central theme of living with one's
limitations
