Carlos Baker’s intention for this book was to “write what will amount to a new biography of Emerson, developed by reference to some of his leading friendships, chiefly but not exclusively literary” (Baker xii). The book is divided into five sections, and each section focuses on a particular decade of Emerson’s life. Although Baker spends a bit of time in the very beginning of the book to shed some light on Emerson’s childhood, the book focuses chiefly on Emerson from the 1830s when Emerson was in his late twenties until Emerson’s death in 1882. Baker focuses on those relationships that Emerson formed when Emerson was in the incipient stage of formulating his philosophy.
The book’s driving purpose is to illuminate Emerson and his age further by fleshing out the network of friendships and relationships that were part of Emerson’s life. As a result, many of the chapters are devoted to a particular figure. Chapter Two, for example, is devoted to Emerson’s Aunt Mary, and Baker latches on to aspects of her that help shed light on Emerson. His Aunt Mary, for example, was a nonconformist and “her idiosyncrasies were legion” (Baker 20). Baker, thankfully, is not heavy-handed in his treatment of influence. Never does he emphatically state, for example, that Emerson thought a particular way because a particular relative had a particular personality or because he was influenced by something a friend wrote, etc. Rather, he simply states the facts as he finds them in the letters, essays, journals, and other myriad writings that have been left us. As readers, we are free to attach as much or as little significance as we deem appropriate. Baker, of course, by what he includes in each chapter, is gently reminding the reader that Emerson was not a solitary figure but one who, of course, was influenced by his friends and times as well as one who influenced his friends and times.
At its best, however, the book delights the reader in suggesting possible influences for Emerson’s thought, thus giving the reader deeper access to the cauldron that shaped some of Emerson’s ideas. We delight in reading about his Aunt Mary and her eccentricities and independence of spirit. The reader is encouraged to figure how much of an influence she had on Emerson, as well as entertain thoughts of how Emerson might have been different if she was not part of his life. We also encounter Bronson Alcott and his passionate interest in the relationship between spirit and matter. In characteristic fashion, Baker states that the “precise extent of Alcott’s influence…[in Nature]…is difficult to determine. But Emerson’s journals from February through July 1836 contain many entries that would soon be incorporated into the final text” (Baker 52). Readers interested in tracing the origins of Emerson’s thought will love passages such as this. Readers will also appreciate the painstaking research that Baker has done to flesh out each of the figures he includes. Quotes from the journals and letters of the period appear regularly throughout the entire book and provide a viewing angle of Emerson not available by reading his essays alone.
The book sometimes gets bogged down in obscure details that don’t seem to serve the purpose of helping us to understand Emerson any better. We read, for example, about Sam Ward’s going to New Orleans to learn from Anna Barker that she has broken her engagement to him. We then learn about his ensuing trip back home where, on his way, he stopped by to visit Ellery Channing only to find that he was not there. In some contexts, such passages may be interesting, but I often found myself asking how they helped me appreciate Emerson any better. Luckily, however, passages like this are rare. To be sure, however, it is a difficult endeavor to decide what to include and what to leave out, and what one reader may find trivial and inconsequential, another may find quite pertinent and interesting. Baker’s style is to illuminate Emerson chiefly by examining the people who knew him, so it may be that each minor detail has the possibility, indeed perhaps the inevitability, of helping us to know Emerson better.
Moreover, figures are often fleshed out not to clarify anything specific about Emerson, but only, perhaps, to point out that Emerson quite often chose his friends on the basis of their ability to stimulate him intellectually. Bronson Alcott and Margaret Fuller are prime examples of this. If readers wish to come to know the playful, carefree, fun-loving side of Emerson that is not apparent in his writings, they will be disappointed. Baker’s book reveals a man decidedly interested in intellectual matters and a man who, quite often, could be distant and cold, even to his closest friends. Baker quotes from Alcott’s journal: “He is an eye more than a heart. An intellect more than a soul.” And, indeed, Baker makes it abundantly clear that Emerson did not choose his friends in order to satisfy any recreational or light-hearted wants; most of the figures outlined are clearly people with a bent toward more academic and literary pursuits. We do not find Emerson calling on anyone for a hunting trip into the Concord wilderness.
All in all, the book often delves into the deeper thoughts of Emerson and his colleagues, but also has a healthy dose of earthy anecdotes, providing a good balance and an enjoyable read.
The book’s driving purpose is to illuminate Emerson and his age further by fleshing out the network of friendships and relationships that were part of Emerson’s life. As a result, many of the chapters are devoted to a particular figure. Chapter Two, for example, is devoted to Emerson’s Aunt Mary, and Baker latches on to aspects of her that help shed light on Emerson. His Aunt Mary, for example, was a nonconformist and “her idiosyncrasies were legion” (Baker 20). Baker, thankfully, is not heavy-handed in his treatment of influence. Never does he emphatically state, for example, that Emerson thought a particular way because a particular relative had a particular personality or because he was influenced by something a friend wrote, etc. Rather, he simply states the facts as he finds them in the letters, essays, journals, and other myriad writings that have been left us. As readers, we are free to attach as much or as little significance as we deem appropriate. Baker, of course, by what he includes in each chapter, is gently reminding the reader that Emerson was not a solitary figure but one who, of course, was influenced by his friends and times as well as one who influenced his friends and times.
At its best, however, the book delights the reader in suggesting possible influences for Emerson’s thought, thus giving the reader deeper access to the cauldron that shaped some of Emerson’s ideas. We delight in reading about his Aunt Mary and her eccentricities and independence of spirit. The reader is encouraged to figure how much of an influence she had on Emerson, as well as entertain thoughts of how Emerson might have been different if she was not part of his life. We also encounter Bronson Alcott and his passionate interest in the relationship between spirit and matter. In characteristic fashion, Baker states that the “precise extent of Alcott’s influence…[in Nature]…is difficult to determine. But Emerson’s journals from February through July 1836 contain many entries that would soon be incorporated into the final text” (Baker 52). Readers interested in tracing the origins of Emerson’s thought will love passages such as this. Readers will also appreciate the painstaking research that Baker has done to flesh out each of the figures he includes. Quotes from the journals and letters of the period appear regularly throughout the entire book and provide a viewing angle of Emerson not available by reading his essays alone.
The book sometimes gets bogged down in obscure details that don’t seem to serve the purpose of helping us to understand Emerson any better. We read, for example, about Sam Ward’s going to New Orleans to learn from Anna Barker that she has broken her engagement to him. We then learn about his ensuing trip back home where, on his way, he stopped by to visit Ellery Channing only to find that he was not there. In some contexts, such passages may be interesting, but I often found myself asking how they helped me appreciate Emerson any better. Luckily, however, passages like this are rare. To be sure, however, it is a difficult endeavor to decide what to include and what to leave out, and what one reader may find trivial and inconsequential, another may find quite pertinent and interesting. Baker’s style is to illuminate Emerson chiefly by examining the people who knew him, so it may be that each minor detail has the possibility, indeed perhaps the inevitability, of helping us to know Emerson better.
Moreover, figures are often fleshed out not to clarify anything specific about Emerson, but only, perhaps, to point out that Emerson quite often chose his friends on the basis of their ability to stimulate him intellectually. Bronson Alcott and Margaret Fuller are prime examples of this. If readers wish to come to know the playful, carefree, fun-loving side of Emerson that is not apparent in his writings, they will be disappointed. Baker’s book reveals a man decidedly interested in intellectual matters and a man who, quite often, could be distant and cold, even to his closest friends. Baker quotes from Alcott’s journal: “He is an eye more than a heart. An intellect more than a soul.” And, indeed, Baker makes it abundantly clear that Emerson did not choose his friends in order to satisfy any recreational or light-hearted wants; most of the figures outlined are clearly people with a bent toward more academic and literary pursuits. We do not find Emerson calling on anyone for a hunting trip into the Concord wilderness.
All in all, the book often delves into the deeper thoughts of Emerson and his colleagues, but also has a healthy dose of earthy anecdotes, providing a good balance and an enjoyable read.