Henry David Thoreau

Henry David Thoreau helped define modern environmentalism and nonviolent resistance, yet his life has been obscured by myth. The author of Walden and Civil Disobedience, he was brilliant but flawed, idealistic but opinionated. A writer, scientist and activist, his words resonate urgently with today’s challenges as humanity looks for ways to live in harmony with nature—and each other.

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Created By	Ken Burns
Status	Ended
Original Name	Henry David Thoreau
First Air Date	March 30, 2026
Last Air Date	March 30, 2026
Seasons	1
Episodes	3
Episode Runtime	55min
Language	English
Original Language	English
Production Countries	United States of America
Production Companies	Florentine Films Ewers Brothers Productions WETA
Networks	PBS

S01E03

Several More Lives to Live

After completing his two-year experiment at Walden Pond, Thoreau returns to society to test what he has learned about living responsibly. He undertakes new “experiments” as a surveyor, scientist, and abolitionist, and takes two more trips to Maine — uncovering even deeper truths about life and the world. He writes with a new urgency as a lifelong illness begins to catch up with him.

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