The Dial - A Magazine for Literature, Philosophy, and Religion #255188

Edited by Margaret Fuller, <i>The Dial: A Magazine for Literature, Philosophy, and Religion – Volume Three</i> is a collection of short stories and essays. In its original form, of which this volume is a part, <i>The Dial</i> was the primary publication of the Transcendentalists, a movement against common culture and society, and particularly political parties and religious institutions.<br><br>This collection includes more than fifty essays on a wide range of topics. The included articles are written both by well-known authors as well as writers that have not attained a great deal of fame. Ralph Waldo Emerson, one of Transcendentalism's most celebrated figures, has several pieces published in this collection. Independence and self-reliance were important pillars of the movement, and thus these topics are discussed throughout. There are essays written on organized religion, the public and private education systems, socialism, popular political parties, Vedic texts and values, as well as many other topics.<br><br>While <i>The Dial: A Magazine for Literature, Philosophy, and Religion – Volume Three</i> is clearly a product of a specific place and time, reading this text today brings to mind the old adage "the more things change, the more things stay the same." While the world is a vastly different place than it was at the time of this collection's publication, there remain remarkable similarities. Many of the concerns discussed by the Transcendentalist writers have never been addressed. <i>The Dial</i> remains an interesting read even today, and carries a surprising degree of relevance.<br><br>For those interested in the Transcendentalist movement, or for students of mid-nineteenth century American politics, <i>The Dial</i> is a fascinating publication. With essays on a wide-range of topics, this is a collection that is sure to present something of intrigue to every reader, and is particularly recommended for those interested in the history of popular discourse about social institutions.