Birds and Poets
With Other Papers
By John Burroughs

The Riverside Dress
Boston and New York
Houghton, Mifflin and Company
The Riverside Press, Cambridge
1891

CONDITION:
Overall condition is Good. The cloth over boards are Fair, showing bumped corners, edgewear, and frayed cloth. The boards are rubbed and moderately soiled, with worn lettering. The spine is Fair, bumped at the head and tail, cocked, moderately frayed, and rubbed. The hinges and joints are Good, though starting. The text block and pages are Good, with worn gilt edges and toning. The endpapers are Good, exhibiting an inscription, looseness, and toning.

ATTRIBUTES:
Hardcover. Bound in cloth over boards. This is an antiquarian book that has had a long and illustrious journey through time. Please take a look at the pictures to ascertain the condition of this item.

Page Count: 263

DESCRIPTION:
John Burroughs's "Birds and Poets" is a collection of essays that delves into the interconnectedness of nature, literature, and human experience. Burroughs, a prominent American naturalist and essayist, explores themes such as the beauty and behavior of birds, the role of poetry in understanding the natural world, and the contemplative life. His writing is characterized by keen observation, lyrical prose, and a deep appreciation for the outdoors, reflecting his close relationship with nature that also influenced his personal friendship with Walt Whitman.

This work holds significant literary importance as it exemplifies the nature writing tradition in American literature, following in the footsteps of authors like Henry David Thoreau. Burroughs's essays are not merely descriptive; they offer philosophical insights into humanity's place within the natural order and the power of artistic expression to illuminate these connections. His accessible yet profound style made him a widely read and influential figure in his time.

Collectors are drawn to Burroughs's works for their enduring literary quality and their historical representation of American environmental thought. "Birds and Poets" provides a window into 19th-century perspectives on nature, conservation, and the aesthetic appreciation of the wild, making it a valuable addition for those interested in American literature, natural history, or the evolution of environmental consciousness.

FLASHBACK TO 1891 WHEN THIS BOOK WAS PUBLISHED:
When this book was published in 1891, the world saw the completion of the Trans-Siberian Railway's first segment, the invention of the incandescent light bulb by Thomas Edison, and the birth of the Impressionist movement in art. John Burroughs was a well-regarded naturalist, and the year also marked the deaths of Herman Melville and Georges Seurat, while Oscar Wilde's "The Picture of Dorian Gray" stirred controversy.

Location: LIB