BEI Emeritus Fellow, Tom Montgomery Fate recently published an article in the Chicago Tribune, commemorating Thoreau’s 200th birthday. Commemorating, but also recreating, or reconstructing his biography. This came after writer, and scholar Laura Dassow Walls wrote a piece discussing how Thoreau’s social justice background, and reputation as a hermit in nature are one in the same. Thoreau saw nature in society, and society in nature. On this idea Montgomery Fate adds:

“Thoreau was a solitary nature-loving artist and an engaged social activist. As an artist, he desperately longs to see the world; as an activist he longs to save it.”