Henry David Thoreau is known as a naturalist, a philosopher, and a leading Transcendentalist. But he was also an ardent abolitionist and political activist. He was a conductor on the Underground Railroad, helping fugitive slaves escape to freedom. He was the first to speak out, loudly and passionately, in support of John Brown after Brown’s raid on Harper’s Ferry. He wrote and spoke with unequaled clarity and strength on subjects as varied as slavery, war, taxation and government, history, law, technology, commerce, religion, and the press. He examined how we are to live in this world and with each other. These works are written with singular drive and immediacy, and are surprisingly and extraordinarily relevant.

Included in this collection are:

Slavery in Massachusetts

Resistance to Civil Government/Civil Disobedience

The Service

Dark Ages

Paradise (to be) Regained

Herald of Freedom

Wendell Phillips Before the Concord Lyceum

Walking

Life Without Principle

A Plea for Captain John Brown

After the Death of John Brown

The Last Days of John Brown

Linda Jones is an award-winning actor and narrator who was born and raised in Concord, Massachusetts. She has narrated several volumes of Thoreau’s work, and currently lives in Brooklyn, New York.