Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862) was an American essayist, poet, philosopher, abolitionist, naturalist, and historian. As a leading transcendentalist, Thoreau is best known for his book 'Walden', a reflection upon simple living in natural surroundings, and his essay 'Civil Disobedience', an argument for individual resistance to civil government in moral opposition to an unjust state. His literary style combines natural observation, personal experience, pointed rhetoric, and symbolic meanings. Thoreau's works are a staple in American literature courses and remain influential to environmental movements and civil rights. Beyond 'Walden', Thoreau's numerous essays, collected and published posthumously, explore a range of topics from nature to politics. His essays embody the transcendentalist faith in the individual's ability to transcend materialistic society through personal intuition and the contemplation of the natural world. Thoreau's work is marked by a profound respect for nature and a deep skepticism towards institutional authority, characteristics that reveal the timelessness of his writing and its continued relevance in contemporary discourse on conservation and civil liberties. His work resonates with the ethos of American romanticism and stands as a testament to the enduring power of individual conscience and introspection.