No Englishman did more in the nineteenth century to advance the literary reputation of Henry David Thoreau than Henry S. Salt. A remarkable reformer who participated broadly in his era’s movements for social change, Salt published two versions of his Life of Henry David Thoreau. The present volume is the third version of the biography, completed in 1908 but never published in Salt’s lifetime.

Combining a concise narrative of Thoreau’s life with a perceptive treatment of his ideas and writings, Life of Henry David Thoreau stands as a penetrating study of Thoreau, stressing his distinctive individuality. Through an astute analysis of the text and a concise biography, the editors illustrate Salt’s growth as a scholar and his changing views on Thoreau and Thoreau’s philosophy.