Henry David Thoreau

Synopsis

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.

First Air Date: 2026-03-30

Last Air Date: 2026-03-30

Number of Seasons: 1

Number of Episodes: 3

Created By: Ken Burns

Networks: PBS

View Technical Specifications on IMDb

Top Cast

George Clooney as Self – Narrator (voice)
Jeff Goldblum as Henry David Thoreau (voice)
Ted Danson as Ralph Waldo Emerson (voice)
Meryl Streep as Various Characters (voice)

Seasons

Limited Series (2026)

No overview available for this season.

Episodes:

Ep. 1: Who Are We? (2026-03-30)

Henry David Thoreau’s early life unfolds as a changing nation struggles to live up to its ideals, while industry threatens the landscape. After attending Harvard College, he was inspired by Ralph Waldo Emerson to become a writer. Then, a family tragedy deepens his bond with nature, and, disillusioned with society, he builds a cabin in the woods to live simply, deliberately, quietly — and write.
Ep. 2: Being Alive (2026-03-30)

Living at his cabin at Walden Pond, Thoreau finds solace in "wild" nature and pours himself into his journal, laying the groundwork for one of two books he writes there. His two-year stay includes regular trips to town, a transformative journey to Maine, and a night in jail in protest of a government that permits slavery — experiences that redefine his understanding of freedom.
Ep. 3: Several More Lives to Live (2026-03-30)

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.