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DVD

Henry David Thoreau

Call Number

  • DVD 921 T488H (CEN)

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Languages

English or Spanish dialogue; English or Spanish subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing, English audio description.

Performers

Voices: Jeff Goldblum, Ted Danson, Meryl Streep, Tate Donovan ; narrated by George Clooney.

Publication Information

[Arlington, Virginia] : PBS Distribution, [2026]

Physical Description

1 videodisc (approximately 180 minutes) : sound, color ; 4 3/4 in.

Audience

Not rated.

Summary

"Nineteenth-century writer Henry David Thoreau helped shape ecology, modern environmentalism, and nonviolent resistance, yet his life has often been reduced to the myth of a solitary hermit by a pond. In truth, he was a teacher, scientist, and outspoken activist who engaged deeply with society while continually questioning its values. Living in a nation struggling to uphold its ideals amid corruption, slavery, and the forced removal of Indigenous Peoples Thoreau sought truth and a meaningful life in what he described as a culture of 'quiet desperation.' This pursuit led him to live simply and deliberately for two years in a cabin he built at Walden Pond, before returning to society to share what he had learned. The author of Walden, Civil Disobedience, and numerous essays, journals, and books, Thoreau's words resonate urgently today as humanity seeks to live in harmony with nature and with one another."--Container.

Notes

Originally broadcast as a documentary mini-series on PBS in 2026.

Subjects