Henry Thoreau is a prominent American writer and philosopher of the 19th century, a supporter of abolitionism. Also, some consider him one of the founders of environmental anarchism. At the age of 28, Thoreau retired from society for more than two years and settled in a self-built house on the banks of Walden Pond. Subsequently, he wrote about this wonderful experience, the book Walden, or Life in the Forest.
Family, Education, and Acquaintance with Emerson
Henry David Thoreau was born in July 1817 in Concord (Massachusetts, USA). The father of the future writer John Thoreau earned his living by the artisanal production of pencils and pencils. And about the wife of John and the mother of Henry Cynthia, it is known that she was the daughter of a clergyman. In addition to Henry, the family had three more children.
At fifteen, the future writer entered Harvard University. And it should be noted that in general, young David was very skeptical of the higher education system. The defense of his thesis (it was called "Commercial Spirit") took place in 1837. But Toro refused the diploma itself, because for its registration it was necessary to pay a fee of $ 5.
After graduation, Toro returned to Concord and became a teacher at a city school. And so it happened that the famous transcendental poet Ralph Waldo Emerson lived in Concord at that time. Already in the autumn of 1937, two talented people became friends. Of course, Emerson, who was 17 years older, had a significant impact on Toro's worldview. And thanks to Emerson, the writer met such progressive thinkers of that era as publicist William Ellery Channing, journalist and feminist Margaret Fuller, and novelist Nathaniel Hawthorne.
Life from 1838 to 1845
In 1838, Henry David lost his job - he was expelled from school because he opposed the practice of corporal punishment. The man could not find another suitable place of work, therefore, together with his brother (his father, like John), he founded his school with an in-depth study of the natural sciences. Corporal punishment was completely prohibited here, which had a positive effect on attendance.
Around the same time, Thoreau met a girl named Helen Sewall. In 1839, he invited her to become his wife. However, such a groom did not suit her parents, and Toro was refused. As a result, until the end of his days, Henry David remained a bachelor.
In the late thirties, another incident occurred, showing how principled Toro was. He received a tax receipt from the Unitarian church, but refused to pay the bills. In addition, in protest, he left the Unitarian community. At the same time, Toro did not want to join any other community.
In July 1840, the transcendental society led by Emerson issued the first issue of Dial. Henry Toro’s poem Sympathy, as well as his essay on the Drenverian poet Aul Persia Flaccus, was posted in this issue. Later in this magazine (it existed until April 1844), his other articles appeared - "The Chinese Four Books", "Sayings of Confucius", "Manu Laws" Buddha's Prayers ", " Winter Walk ".
In 1841, Toro, in a difficult financial situation, settled in the house of Ralph Emerson. Here he served as a carpenter, gardener and janitor, in exchange he was provided with food and a separate room.
In 1842, Thoreau traveled to New York, where he became a private teacher in the family of one of Emerson's relatives. In parallel, he constantly wrote texts for New York publications. However, the journalistic and literary work of Toro was not appreciated then - the attempt to conquer the big city failed. As a result, at the end of 1843, the writer returned to his parental home and began to help the family in the pencil business.
Hermitage experience
In the spring of 1845, Thoreau independently built a hut on the banks of Walden Pond, and a little later, on July 4, settled in it. Waldensky Pond was located in a deserted, but very beautiful place (today it is a conservation area) a couple of miles from Concord. And it was not without reason that Thoreau decided to settle here - he wanted to check how a person would feel in isolation from society.
In total, Toro spent about 800 days in the lap of nature. And during this period he provided himself with almost everything necessary. His activities included fishing, gardening, exploring the surrounding area, swimming, reading, and thinking. However, he did not avoid contacts with people and regularly talked with the citizens of Concord.
Moreover, in 1846, Toro had problems with law enforcement. Once he went to the city to pick up his shoes from a repair shop, and was detained by the police. The local financial inspector charged the writer with non-payment of the so-called poll tax over the past six years. Toro was offered to pay the debt, but he refused, and he was sent to prison. However, less than a day later Toro was released (the debt was paid by relatives), and he returned to his hut.
