The Poetry of Ralph Waldo Emerson

When I went to visit the Concord Museum, They had a replica of Emerson's Study:

“The Concord Museum and the Emerson Family have enjoyed a long relationship; Ralph Waldo Emerson attended the first meeting that led to the creation of the Concord Antiquarian Society ( now the Concord Museum).”

I stood there looking into all the details of the study and thinking about all the great people that Emerson had entertained in his study.



The Emerson house is just around the corner from Orchard House and across the street from the Concord Museum.



He wrote many of his works in this home and entertained Bronson Alcott, Mary Moody Emerson, Louisa May Alcott and Henry David Thoreau.



Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 - 1882)
Although his original profession was as a Unitarian minister, he left the ministry to pursue a career in writing and public speaking. Emerson became one of America’s best known and best loved 19th century figures.




What I love most about Emerson, is that he lived just around the block from the Alcott’s and he was a good friend to the family. Louisa May Alcott used to babysit his children and read fairy stories to them. She also would visit Emerson’s home to borrow books, he had a wonderful library.



I found a wonderful volume of Emerson’s poetry, when I visited Concord the other day. I stopped by Emerson's House to photograph the book there.



The book is 526 pages, contains a lovely portrait of Emerson and his poetry.



The book was published by Houghton Mufflin & Company in 1904.



This volume is Volume IX, which is the volume containing his poetry. The lovely book still has much of it’s gold leafing detail at the top. Lovingly worn.



It looks as if one illustration might be missing in the introduction, although no page number seems to be missing. Otherwise the book is in beautiful condition.



The portrait used as a front piece to this volume is from a daguerrotype taken by Hawes in 1854. It had never before been reproduced before this publication. The preface was written by his youngest son, Edward Waldo Emerson.



Stepping into one of Emerson's books make me think how Louisa May Alcott and her family walked down this street to Emerson's home many Spring days like today. I have listed this book amongst others in my Etsy shop, For The Love of Old Books, today.



Here is a narration of Emerson's poem Good Bye.