Despite the wide recognition of Thoreau's importance not only as an American writer but as a world writer, there has been no complete and authoritative edition of his writings until now. The Writings of Henry D. Thoreau, under the general editorship of William L. Howarth, provides for the scholar and the general reader authoritative texts, edited according to the most advanced bibliographical principles, and presented with textual notes. The collection contains the college essay, the 'Notes on Fruits and Seeds,' and a number of other previously unpublished pieces.