James Finley, associate professor of English at Texas A&M University-San Antonio, presented "Henry David Thoreau and the Commons" on Oct. 19 at Patriots' Casa in celebration of the author's 200th birthday.

Finley is also the editor of the "Henry David Thoreau in Context" which was released by Cambridge University Press this summer.

Finley talked with The Mesquite about the process behind the book and what it was like to edit the collection.