The Project Gutenberg EBook of Ralph Waldo Emerson, by Oliver Wendell Holmes

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Title: Ralph Waldo Emerson

Author: Oliver Wendell Holmes

Release Date: June 24, 2004 [EBook #12700]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RALPH WALDO EMERSON ***

Produced by Paul Murray and PG Distributed Proofreaders

American Men of Letters

EDITED BY

CHARLES DUDLEY WARNER.

"_Thou wert the morning star among the living,
Ere thy fair light had fled:
Now, having died, thou art as Hesperus, giving
New splendor to the dead._"

American Men of Letters

* * * * *

RALPH WALDO EMERSON.

BY

OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES.

1891

NOTE.

My thanks are due to the members of Mr. Emerson's family, and the other
friends who kindly assisted me by lending interesting letters and
furnishing valuable information.

The Index, carefully made by Mr. J.H. Wiggin, was revised and somewhat
abridged by myself.

OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES.

BOSTON, November 25, 1884.

CONTENTS.

* * * * *

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER I.

1803-1823. To AET. 20.

Birthplace.--Boyhood.--College Life.

CHAPTER II.

1823-1828. AET. 20-25.

Extract from a Letter to a Classmate.--School-Teaching.--Study of
Divinity.--"Approbated" to Preach.--Visit to the South.--Preaching in
Various Places.

CHAPTER III.

1828-1833. AET. 25-30.

Settled as Colleague of Rev. Henry Ware.--Married to Ellen Louisa
Tucker.--Sermon at the Ordination of Rev. H.B. Goodwin.--His Pastoral
and Other Labors.--Emerson and Father Taylor.--Death of Mrs.
Emerson.--Difference of Opinion with some of his Parishioners.--Sermon
Explaining his Views.--Resignation of his Pastorate.

CHAPTER IV.

1833-1838. AET. 30-35.

Section I. Visit to Europe.--On his Return preaches in Different
Places.--Emerson in the Pulpit.--At Newton.--Fixes his Residence at
Concord.--The Old Manse.--Lectures in Boston.--Lectures on
Michael Angelo and on Milton published in the "North American
Review."--Beginning of the Correspondence with Carlyle.--Letters to the
Rev. James Freeman Clarke.--Republi