Thoreau as a Blogger

Thoreau Reader:  Home


If Henry Thoreau had blogged, it might have looked like this:
The Blog of Henry David Thoreau
Henry Thoreau's journals were about as close to blogging as anything could have been in his time. Blogger Greg Perry has been selecting portions of Thoreau's journals, and posting them on the day of the year they were written, but from various years. He expects to do this until an entire year has been posted.

Marca Bradt, on the Utne Reader site: writes, "In a time when insightful pondering and deep reflection seem passe, along comes a visionary blogger posting the daily musings of Henry David Thoreau. Thoreau's journal entries will fortify your day, every day of the year, with wisdom that resonates profoundly 150 years later."

Greg has done a fine job of selecting portions of the journal to post. He points out that "Each blog post is an excerpt from that day's entry in the Journal, and although not necessarily the complete entry, it is an integral and intact section thereof."

Another blog, The Tattered Coat, has more information about the process Perry uses. Responding to a question about favorites, Perry mentions December 11, 1855. The Tattered Coat author writes, "Like a glass of single-malt scotch drunk neat, Thoreau’s stark, reflective prose has a memorable bite that ripens on the tongue."


Thoreau Reader:  Home