It is so easy to read him as a prototype of modern I suppose it comes down to whether or not works should stand on their own. I know nothing of Thoreau or his

It is so easy to read him as a prototype of modern I suppose it comes down to whether or not works should stand on their own. I know nothing of Thoreau or his life, so inferring whether or not he's a witty social commentator (which I wouldn't, based on experience) or a stuck up brat is very difficult. I'd say work ought to stand on its own on that basis, although maybe I'm being a lazy reader.