Walden

3.9 avg 39600 votes 9703 reviews 304495 want to read

About this book

Walden first published in 1854 as Walden; or, Life in the Woods) is a book by American transcendentalist writer Henry David Thoreau. The text is a reflection upon the author's simple living in natural surroundings. The work is part personal declaration of independence, social experiment, voyage of spiritual discovery, satire, and—to some degree—a manual for self-reliance. Walden details Thoreau's experiences over the course of two years, two months, and two days in a cabin he built near Walden Pond amidst woodland owned by his friend and mentor Ralph Waldo Emerson, near Concord, Massachusetts. Thoreau makes precise scientific observations of nature as well as metaphorical and poetic uses of natural phenomena. He identifies many plants and animals by both their popular and scientific names, records in detail the color and clarity of different bodies of water, precisely dates and describes the freezing and thawing of the pond, and recounts his experiments to measure the depth and shape of the bottom of the supposedly "bottomless" Walden Pond. (Source: Wikipedia)

3.9 ★★★★☆ average of 4 sources · 39600 votes
Open Library 3.9 34
1★2★3★4★5★
Goodreads 3.9 39600
1★2★3★4★5★

9,703 reviews · 304,495 want to read · 3,309 reading now

Apple Books 4.0 70
Hardcover 3.6 363

Reader Profile

Enjoyment79Difficulty100Influence81Popularity76Classic100

3.9/5 · 39600 readers · 320 pages · ≈ 5 h 56 m · Demanding

How long does it take to read Walden?

About ≈ 5 h 56 m — 320 pages, assuming roughly 250 words per page at 225 words per minute.Typical novel≈ 5 h 56 mWalden~5 h 56 m

How many pages is Walden?

320 pages in its most-read edition.Typical novel320Walden320

What genre is Walden?

It sits on the Essays, Philosophy, Biography & Memoir shelves.

Is Walden in the public domain?

Yes — it is free to read and share.

Who are the main characters in Walden?

The main characters include Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862).

Where does Walden take place?

It is set in Massachusetts, Walden Woods, Walden Woods (Mass.) during 19th century, 1854, 19e siècle.

Who wrote Walden?

Henry David Thoreau.

Where can I read Walden online for free?

It is in the public domain — read it free on Open Library

Setting MassachusettsWalden WoodsWalden Woods (Mass.) Time period 19th century185419e siècle Characters Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)
Walden ★ 3.9 · 4 sources Read free Check price →