My Friends at Brook Farm

"My Friends at Brook Farm" by John Van der Zee Sears is a memoir recalling the author's youth within the unique setting of Brook Farm, an experiment in utopian living rooted in Transcendentalist thought. The story opens by painting a picture of the "Old Colonie," evoking the customs and language of early Dutch settlers and weaving in the author's own childhood memories and family life, offering the reader a personal glimpse into a bygone era. As the narrative unfolds, influential figures like Horace Greeley and Dr. George Ripley appear, drawing connections to the establishment of Brook Farm, where the author grows up, encounters both the difficulties and delights of communal life, and forges lasting bonds within a vibrant and intellectually stimulating community.