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ExUrbanis

Urban Leaving to Country Living

WALDEN: A Short Consideration of Location, Location, Location

March6

The Classics Reading Challenge hosted by November’s Autumn is the one I’m calling “Classics with a Twist” – the twist being that on the fourth of each month, Katherine posts a prompt to act as a basis for my discussion of the classic I’m currently reading.

This month, the prompt is LOCATION – and the classic I’ve most recently finished is Walden by Henry David Thoreau.

In 1845, Thoreau spent two years living in a small cabin in the woods near Walden Pond, Connecticut Massachusetts. (oops! See comments.) In his classic discourse, Walden, the author discusses in some depth the economic theory behind his experiment in living, as well as minute observations about nature, including the pond itself.

After the introductory essays, Thoreau doesn’t so much introduce the location, as he does analyze it throughout the book. In fact, location seems inseparable to the book. It is, after all, called Walden.

Walden Pond

This is how Walden Pond looked about the time Thoreau lived there. It would have been nicer to see this in summer when there were leaves on the trees – that is how I imagined it even though Thoreau talks in depth about winter and spring at the pond.

Would the book have worked as well if Walden had been located somewhere else? The southern US? Above the Arctic Circle? The Australian outback? Surprisingly (to me, once I started considering this), I think the basic premise of the book – which was Thoreau’s experiment in opting out of established society – would be as strong no matter where it was set. Certainly, the description of the changing seasons would have been replaced by other observations of the natural cycles.

What do you think? Is Walden Pond inseparable from the book Walden?


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13 Comments to

“WALDEN: A Short Consideration of Location, Location, Location”

  1. On March 6th, 2012 at 7:38 pm Bonnie Says:

    I suspect the differences would have been largely incidental. But I also suspect that Thoreau’s experience would have been far less paradisaical if he’d set up camp in South Texas.

  2. On March 7th, 2012 at 6:25 pm Debbie Says:

    Yes, Bonnie – paradise would have to have changing seasons!

  3. On March 7th, 2012 at 12:44 am Katherine Says:

    I haven’t read Thoreau yet but I’ve, of course, heard great things. 🙂 And love his connection with the Alcotts.
    Thank you for your post, Debbie!

  4. On March 7th, 2012 at 12:39 pm Barbara Says:

    The thing that always tickled me about Walden was that Thoreau was within a short walk of his pal Emerson’s house and he went there often while living at Walden Pond. Emerson’s wife was a good cook! As for your question, I think it could have been anywhere in New England, but no other part of the country.

  5. On March 7th, 2012 at 6:26 pm Debbie Says:

    Barbara, Walden was so full of contradictions of which that is only one: “I opt out, but not out of Mrs. Emerson’s cooking” lol

  6. On March 7th, 2012 at 2:53 pm Nan Says:

    It’s Massachusetts not Connecticut. :<) It wouldn't have worked anywhere else because that's where the whole circle lived, those people that Susan Cheever calls 'American Bloomsbury' in her book of that name. A brilliant book, by the way.

  7. On March 7th, 2012 at 6:27 pm Debbie Says:

    Oh, Nan, is my face red! Shows you just how good both my American geography AND my memory are!

  8. On March 8th, 2012 at 12:53 am Jillian Says:

    I agree with you. I think Thoreau was an excellent writer and would have made the essay work wherever he set it. But I’m so very glad he chose Walden Pond. (I definitely picture it in winter.) 🙂

  9. On March 8th, 2012 at 11:44 am Debbie Says:

    There is certainly something idyllic about New England, Jillian!

  10. On March 20th, 2012 at 1:15 pm Heather Says:

    I downloaded Walden on my nook a while back, but haven’t read it yet. I want to, but so many other books have come my way. I think I might start it today. It can go with all the other books I *need* to read 🙂 I love memoirs about going back to the land though, so I am sure this will be a quick read!

  11. On March 20th, 2012 at 3:00 pm Debbie Says:

    I hope Walden is a quick read for you, Heather. It’s not all back to the land and I found it a hard slog.

  12. On March 21st, 2012 at 6:05 pm Margaret @ BooksPlease Says:

    Walden is a book I’ve wanted to read for a while. It seems to me that the location has to be essential – Walden set anywhere else, wouldn’t be Walden, although I know what you mean about the basic premise of the book – opting out of society could take place somewhere else.

  13. On March 22nd, 2012 at 7:10 am Debbie Says:

    I’m still of mixed feelings on the matter, Margaret. Walden was an ideal setting, though!

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