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Emerson's civil wars : spirit and society in the age of abolition / Kenneth S. Sacks.
- Format:
- Book
- Author/Creator:
- Sacks, Kenneth, author.
- Language:
- English
- Subjects (All):
- Antislavery movements--United States--History--19th century.
- Antislavery movements.
- Abolitionists--United States--Biography.
- Abolitionists.
- United States--Intellectual life--19th century.
- United States.
- Emerson, Ralph Waldo, 1803-1882--Political and social views.
- Emerson, Ralph Waldo.
- Emerson, Ralph Waldo, 1803-1882--Knowledge and learning.
- Physical Description:
- 1 online resource (xvi, 252 pages) : illustrations
- Edition:
- First edition.
- Other Title:
- Spirit and society in the age of abolition
- Place of Publication:
- Cambridge, England : Cambridge University Press, [2024]
- Summary:
- Kenneth S. Sacks explores how America's first public intellectual, determined to live self-reliantly, wrestled with his personal philosophy and eventually supported collective action to abolish slavery. Ralph Waldo Emerson was successful in creating a national audience for his philosophy and enjoyed the material and social rewards of that success. Contrary to most other Emerson scholars, however, Sacks argues that Emerson resisted active abolition and did not become a supporter until events forced his hand. Committing to the antislavery movement was risky and ran against his essential belief in social gradualism. Events in the mid-1850s, though, hastened Emerson's conversion and he eventually became a leader in the movement. A study of an intellectual under the pressure to engage in political action, Emerson's Civil Wars enriches our understanding of Emerson's antislavery activities, life, and career
- Contents:
- Reluctant abolitionist
- In search of his set
- Highest belief
- On race
- Emerson's conversion
- Overcoming fate
- Notes:
- Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 18 Oct 2024).
- Description based on print version record.
- Includes bibliographical references and index.
- ISBN:
- 9781009504843
- 1009504843
- 9781009504850
- 1009504851
- 9781009504867
- 100950486X
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