Checking in on Thoreau: The first entry

Oct. 22 [1837].
“What are you doing now?” he* asked. “Do you keep a journal?” So I make my first entry to-day.

So begins Henry David Thoreau's Journal, one of the major projects of the naturalist's career, and one that would eventually comprise nearly one two million words.

The abridged Journal of Henry David Thoreau will be available through www.nyrb.com in early November.

More excerpts from the Journal:
June 10th, 1857
June 15th, 1852
August 11th, 1858

*In his introduction to The Journal, editor Damion Searls remarks, "The 'he' in this first entry is undoubtedly Emerson."

Comments

[fran manushkin]

I read an entry from Thoreau's Journal every day, first thing in the morning. I highly recommend it for adding some sanity to a busy NYC life.

[Sara]

Check back for a Q&A with Damion Searls, the editor of the book, which we'll be posting in the next few weeks.

[Matthew]

Eagerly awaiting this.