Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor:

I just read Nikhil Bilwakesh’s Book Review: To Set This World Right: The Antislavery Movement in Thoreau’s Concord by Sandra Harbert Petrulionis.

I have just finished reading "To Set This World Right: The Antislavery Movement in Thoreau’s Concord." I was very impressed by Dr. Petrulionis’ work, which included vast research into primary sources such as personal letters. When I read Nikhil Bilwakesh’s review of the book I noticed a variety of inaccuracies: there are a number of mis-attributed quote excerpts, including the one the title came from ("to set this world right"). This was attributed to letters of Mary Moody Emerson when in fact they were from letters of Mary Merrick Brooks.

It is important for scholars who read these reviews to have accurate information about the book.

Cordially,

Donna L. Lybecker, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Political Science and Environmental Studies

Nikhil Bilwakesh responds:

The quotation in question is described in my review as a letter by Mary Merrick Brooks that stylistically resembles the unpublished writings of Mary Moody Emerson. You did not specify any other inaccuracies or misattributions in the review, and I don’t believe there are any. 

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