At the time of his death on November 13, 1961, Stephen Whicher
was variously at work on Emerson. On the day before he died, he
wrote the Preface to this book, and was in the midst of work on
Volume II of The Early Lectures of Ralph Waldo Emerson, of
which he was co-editor. In the transition from life to death, he was,
I like to think, guided by Montaigne's wise saying that "The pre-
meditation of death is the premeditation of liberty . . . to know
how to die delivers us from all subjection and constraint."

Except for the writings that bear our individual names, every-
thing in this book was planned and prepared by us jointly. I dedi-
cate everything in it that is mine to the memory of Stephen Emerson
Whicher.

M.R.K.

Second printing . . . April, 1963

© 1962

BY PRENTICE-HALL, INC.

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form,
by mimeograph or any other means, without permission in writing from the publishers.

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOG CARD NO.: 62-14850

Printed in the United States of America

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