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Henry David Thoreau

1817–1862 · United States · American 19th century

Thoreau’s Walden records two years living simply in a cabin by Walden Pond. A friend of Emerson, he also wrote poems, many scattered through his prose, and his essay “Civil Disobedience” inspired later movements for justice.

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Frequently asked questions

Are Henry David Thoreau’s poems free to read?

Yes. Henry David Thoreau’s poems are in the public domain.

What are Henry David Thoreau’s best-known works?

Walden (1854), Civil Disobedience (1849).

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