Thoreau: Walden / Civil Disobedience

By: Henry David Thoreau

Narrated by: Rupert Degas

Length: 11 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

In 1845 Henry David Thoreau, one of the principal New England Transcendentalists, left the small town of Concord for the country. Beside the lake of Walden he built himself a log cabin and returned to nature, to observe and reflect – while surviving on eight dollars a year.

From this experience emerged Walden, one of the great classics of American literature, and a deeply personal reaction against the commercialism and materialism that Thoreau saw as the main impulses of mid-19th-century America. Here also is Civil Disobedience, Thoreau’s essay on just resistance to government, which not only challenged the establishment of his day but has been used as a flag for later campaigners from Mahatma Ghandi to Dr Martin Luther King.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©2010 Naxos Audiobook (P)2010 Naxos Audiobook

love Thoreau

it's so much richer to hear this in context. brought alive the times and struggles of the day. bravo!

A Literary Gem

I tend to evaluate a book by 2 sets of criteria: My own subjective enjoyment, and then also by literary standards.

'Walden' is beautifully written, a literary gem. The words can phrases can almost be savoured and appreciated. The subject matter idyllic with wonderful values.

Unfortunately, its wisdom could only be applied with great difficulty and a set of hugely life-threatening circumstances in today's world. Or perhaps this is only true where I live.

But it is dreamy. A kind of Utopia.

On a personal level, i did find myself getting distracted and rather bored in sections involving lengthy descriptions of nature.

5 Stars as a literary work, 3 for personal enjoyment.

This is a must read.

The narration conveyed the story very well without being monotone or overly dramatic, and so I think was excellent, because such a great work must be conveyed without the narrator adding to or subtracting from the work.

I want to find my own place in the wilderness now, and plant beans and subsist on rice.

Over a century and a half and this is still as relevant, possibly more so, as the day it was published. with the exception that the great classics are available in English today without having to learn Greek to read The Iliad. Include this in your collection, you won't be sorry. I've listened to this many times now, and will likely never tire of it.

A Great Listen and a Classic

Surprisingly relevant to our times, this book provides a guide for thinking. It can be enjoyed for it's place in time, but it's poetry-prose at its best. Some have found it condescending, but it's beautiful, edgy, and has lasting wisdom. I even enjoyed a bit of the bean counting economics, but more prominent is the celebration of individualism against a lost society. There are lessons here for now, expressed with a mix of wit, charm, and gall. The audio performance is excellent. #tagsgiving #sweepstakes

amazing book, ok narration

The book is amazing but most of the literate world already knows this. The reading is ok. At first sounding poetic but as the tone of each sentence goes through the same cyle of inflection, it starts to become repetitious and boring. The narrator begins each sentence strong and clear and slowly meanders to a quiet finish, almost whispering the last words. This would be fine ocaasionally but as it continues to recur you get exhausted listening to him. By no way should this trump the importance of this book in every collection and if your prefered method of digestion is auditory, I maintain a high recommendation for the purchase of this work.

Brilliant

Thoreau wrote with passion and sometimes anger. The performance reflects Thoreau's bitterness with the government and people of Concord and the United States. Thoreau looks deep into himself and society. The writing is amazing and Degas played to the character almost as if he was an old friend of Thoreau.

Good book, good narration

Thoreau is a great writer, thinker, and philosopher. I really enjoyed Walden.

I like the performance by Rupert Degas.

Well worth listening

I've always considered reading Thoreau, but never found time. I have the actual book somewhere in the house but never got through more that 5 pages.
This audiobook opened my mind to the timeless voice and philosophy of Thoreau. The narrator's voice is perfect.
This is an incredible work of art, and I feel like a better and more whole person having absorbed its wisdom.

great storyteller. Must read classic.

Where does Thoreau: Walden / Civil Disobedience (Unabridged) rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

with the best

Who was your favorite character and why?

Henry,the main character with deep thoughts about life. Very useful knowledge of living.

What does Rupert Degas bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

an attitude of awe.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

no

Any additional comments?

MUST READ/LISTEN TO THIS BOOK

Thoreau’s Continuing Gift To Us If We Listen

I’ve read this several times starting in 9th grade. I wonder if they still teach this in HS. They are both great books that illustrate what a deep thinker Thoreau was. Walden discusses his thoughts on consumerism and current society, etc. Civil Disobedience portrays his thoughts on how to affect change especially in the government. Both texts have influenced leaders around the world. They are just as important today as they were in the past.

The production was good. The narrator tried to portray Thoreau’s feelings during key parts of books to mixed results.

Highly recommended. Everyone should read these documents.