"The world knows Thoreau as a transcendentalist and literary naturalist, but less as a political thinker. Turner moves us in a fresh direction with this provocative new collection of essays by leading scholars in political science, philosophy, and ethics." -- William L. Howarth, Princeton University, former editor in chief of The Writings of Henry D. Thoreau."A first-rate collection of essays, exploring Thoreau's contributions to the study of politics on issues ranging from freedom and democracy to individuality, self-cultivation, and the political imagination. Demonstrates persuasively that Thoreau continues to illuminate questions at the center of political theory today." -- Sharon R. Krause, director of graduate studies and associate professor of political science, Brown University"Promises to reinvigorate debates about a whole range of under explored themes in Walden and in the political thought of nineteenth-century America." -- Bryan Garsten, associate professor of political science, Yale UniversityPOLITICAL COMPANIONS TO GREAT AMERICAN AUTHORSSeries Editor: Patrick J. Deneen

Jack Turner is assistant professor of political science at the University of Washington. His articles have appeared in Political Theory, Raritan, and Polity.