Transcendentalisms

Abstract

Compares three recently published studies of Transcendentalism and its leading proponents. Judges Cheever’s book somewhat sensational and less well researched than the other two, but commends her for highlighting the personal lives of important figures in the movement. Considers Packer’s book a very solid scholarly discussion of Transcendentalism that focuses on the theory rather than concentrating on leading figures. Asserts that Gura’s work is even more impressive as an explanation of the major tenets of Transcendentalism and especially valuable in explaining the important role of figures not often written about as extensively as Emerson and Thoreau.