Henry David Thoreau: Thinking Disobediently

From his day to ours, Henry David Thoreau has provoked sharply opposite reactions, ranging from reverence to dismissal. Scholars have regularly offered conflicting assessments of the significance of his work, the evolution of his thought, even the facts of his life. Some disagreements are in the eye of the beholder, but many follow from challenges posed by his own cross-grained idiosyncrasies. Thoreau was a leading figure in the American Transcendentalist movement and was an advocate for self-reliance who never broke away from home, a self-professed mystic now also acclaimed as a pioneer life-scientist, and a seminal theorist of nonviolent protest who defended the most notorious guerilla fighter of his day. Join us as author Lawrence Buell explores the thought and impact of this iconic, but highly controversial figure. Following Professor Buell's presentation, author Megan Marshall will join the discussion on Thoreau's life and will open the conversation to audience questions.