At Thoreau Farm, 341 Virginia Road, Concord, MA
6:00 pm – refreshments & socializing (and reading the essay, if you haven’t yet)
7:00 pm – discussion
FREE (suggested donation: $5/session)
Registration encouraged, drop-ins welcome.
September 8: “Where I lived and What I Lived For” from Walden. Download Reading. Register.
October 20: “Wild Apples” Download Reading. Register.
November 17: “A Winter Walk” Download Reading. Register.
December 15 : “Former Inhabitants & Winter Visitors” from Walden. Download Reading. Register
Join us at Thoreau Farm for our monthly reading group exploring the writing of Henry David Thoreau. Each session will center on one selected reading, inviting lively conversation around Thoreau’s views on nature, society, and moral responsibility.
This informal, community-focused series welcomes readers of all backgrounds—no prior experience with Thoreau necessary. Come every month or drop in as you’re able.
Discussions will be led by Richard Smith and Amity Wilczek.
Dr. Amity Wilczek is an evolutionary ecologist whose role as an educator and researcher has been shaped by attention to place, history, and student experience. Her teaching career started at Harvard and Brown before transitioning to Deep Springs College, where over 10 years she served as Herbert Reich Chair of Natural Sciences, Academic Dean, and Vice President. Many of the courses she has offered feature Thoreau’s writings. Her research on plant responses to changing environments has appeared in Science, Ecology, and many other journals. Amity currently lives in Concord, Massachusetts and saunters in Thoreau country at every opportunity.
Richard Smith is a Public Historian in Concord, Massachusetts and has been portraying Henry Thoreau for over 20 years. While he spends most of his time (as Thoreau) at Walden Pond, he also travels a great deal, and has performed as Thoreau across the country and in Canada. In addition, Richard has written eleven books (including two about Thoreau) for Applewood Books.
Let’s walk together through Thoreau’s words and ideas this fall—deliberately and in good company.