Mary and The Emerson Summer Gang,

I apologize for the delay in getting this out. I spent the weekend writing and writing, always finding myself backtracking, realizing what I was attempting to say was not what was on the paper. So, what I ended up doing was taking my notes/questions and doctoring them up. Therefore, my response will not read like earlier responses, nor does it directly talk about Emerson’s “Spiritual Essay.” Rather, I took the approach of asking myself some questions, and then drawing a conclusion at the end based on what I believe Emerson is trying to tell us in the essay. This is not exactly how I wanted to present it, but because we’re already a few days behind, I thought it better to have something posted. At least it will give us a place to start. So, without further ado….

Bobby in an Email to Mary

Click to listen to Chris’s interview with Harold Bloom Part 1(8.7 MB MP3)

And carry on, by all means, to Part Part II:

Interview with Harold Bloom Part 2(5.4 MB MP3)

And carry on, by all means, to Part Part III:

Interview with Harold Bloom Part 3(5.4 MB MP3)

Nick is looking into a better way to organize the thread as well. Thanks Nick!

Maybe after close reading we could stipulate: every sentence of this amazing central essay deserves to be underlined or highlighted. Emerson is unceasing, relentless… and before you leave, and it may take time, more time than we have here, or more than one reading, you just have to get it. And if Emerson gets through, you will be grateful because he ultimately gives you back to yourself.

Potter in an Email to Mary

Self-Reliance, July 20
Compensation, July 27
Spiritual Laws, August 3
Love, Aug. 10
Friendship, Aug 17
Prudence, Aug 24
Heroism, Aug 31
The Over-Soul, Sept. 7
Circles, Sept. 14
Intellect, Sept. 21
Art, Sept. 28

Whether we actually complete both series or not, the point is the start, the initiative is all, what Susan Sontag called “the beginning mind.” In what follows I’ve tried to offer some opening general impressions on Emerson, as well as more specific observations on History, the first essay of the first series. As far as a plan or schedule, I think we should read the essays in sequence, as Emerson, perhaps, intended. For, as Douglas Crase points out, the “light” as the end of History leads into that “gleam of light” at the beginning of Self-Reliance. Separate threads will be set up for each individual essay, with specific headers written by volunteers to kick things off.

The only general guide for reading and discussion that I can think of right now, is to look out for repetitions and resonances within and between the essays. Emerson encodes his ideas in startling imagery. How these images fit into and form the overall picture he’s painting, is, I think, key.

So, let’s get started…

Mynocturama in an Email to Mary

So David has been laboring mightily for two weeks now to give us all the day off today. He did this by listening through hours of interviews about one of Chris’s great loves, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and by creating out of them a brand-new hour of documentary, of Chris chasing the ghost and the spirit of Ralph.

It’s a gorgeous documentary. I know this because I’m listening to it right now, on July 4th. I am listening to it now only because, as I was just making plans with Katherine to watch the fireworks, she, in her car with a dog, asked me if I were enjoying the show.

Aha. The show. So for one exquisitely postmodern moment, Katherine, her dog and I — she and the dog in her car and I in my living room and all of us on the phone together — just listened to Chris’s voice and Dave’s handiwork. Dave is in the Adirondacks right now enjoying the day off he gave us all and, well, only he knows where the audio is, so I promise I’ll have it up on the site tomorrow.

But in the meantime I am surrounded, here in Allston, by garden parties, on my way out the door to enjoy the little bit of the fireworks that Katherine swears you can see in Belmont. Happy Fourth of July.