Thoreau's Animals

by Henry David Thoreau, Debby Cotter Kaspari (Illustrator), Geoff Wisner (Editor)

From Thoreau’s renowned Journal, a treasury of memorable, funny, and sharply observed accounts of his encounters with the wild and domestic animals of Concord

Many of the most vivid writings in the renowned Journal of Henry David Thoreau concern creatures he came upon when rambling the fields, forests, and wetlands of Concord and nearby communities. A keen and thoughtful observer, he wrote frequently about these animals, always sensitive to their mysteries and deeply appreciative of their beauty and individuality. Whether serenading the perch of Walden Pond with his flute, chasing a loon across the water’s surface, observing a battle between black and red ants, or engaging in a battle of wits with his family’s runaway pig, Thoreau penned his journal entries with the accuracy of a scientist and the deep spirituality of a transcendentalist and mystic.
 
This volume, like its companion Thoreau’s Wildflowers, is arranged by the days of the year, following the progress of the turning seasons. A selection of his original sketchbook drawings is included, along with thirty-five exquisite illustrations by naturalist and artist Debby Cotter Kaspari.

Genres: Nonfiction, Animals, Nature, History, Science, Philosophy, Biography

280 pages, Hardcover

Published March 28, 2017

About the author

Henry David Thoreau (born David Henry Thoreau) was an American author, naturalist, transcendentalist, tax resister, development critic, philosopher, and abolitionist who is best known for Walden, a reflection upon simple living in natural surroundings, and his essay, Civil Disobedience, an argument for individual resistance to civil government in moral opposition to an unjust state.

Thoreau's books, articles, essays, journals, and poetry total over 20 volumes. Among his lasting contributions were his writings on natural history and philosophy, where he anticipated the methods and findings of ecology and environmental history, two sources of modern day environmentalism.

In 1817, Henry David Thoreau was born in Massachusetts. He graduated from Harvard University in 1837, taught briefly, then turned to writing and lecturing. Becoming a Transcendentalist and good friend of Emerson, Thoreau lived the life of simplicity he advocated in his writings. His two-year experience in a hut in Walden, on land owned by Emerson, resulted in the classic, Walden: Life in the Woods (1854). During his sojourn there, Thoreau refused to pay a poll tax in protest of slavery and the Mexican war, for which he was jailed overnight. His activist convictions were expressed in the groundbreaking On the Duty of Civil Disobedience (1849). In a diary he noted his disapproval of attempts to convert the Algonquins "from their own superstitions to new ones." In a journal he noted dryly that it is appropriate for a church to be the ugliest building in a village, "because it is the one in which human nature stoops to the lowest and is the most disgraced." (Cited by James A. Haught in 2000 Years of Disbelief.) When Parker Pillsbury sought to talk about religion with Thoreau as he was dying from tuberculosis, Thoreau replied: "One world at a time."

Thoreau's philosophy of nonviolent resistance influenced the political thoughts and actions of such later figures as Leo Tolstoy, Mohandas K. Gandhi, and Martin Luther King, Jr. D. 1862.

More: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/tho...

http://thoreau.eserver.org/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Da...

http://transcendentalism-legacy.tamu....

http://www.biography.com/people/henry...

Reviews

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of excerpts from Thoreau's journals is arranged by day of the year, starting with early March, so I read it over the course of a year, reading almost daily only the entries for that day. It's a wonderful trip through the seasons with Thoreau the naturalist writing out his observations of animals. Illustrated with beautiful drawings by Debby Cotter Kaspari.

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartwarming collection of Thoreau's journal musings on wildlife. Thoreau approaches nature with a mix of scientific observation and transcendentalist wonder, with sprinkles of profound social commentary and philosophy throughout; at times, his writing is sublimely poetic. His encounters with various species are often amusing -- highlights include Thoreau capturing several creatures (flying squirrel, screech owl, snapping turtle...) for overnight studies, bonding with a woodchuck by speaking to it in "forest lingo", serenading the perch of Walden Pond with a flute, rescuing an abandoned kitten who managed to "hail" Thoreau in his boat, watching a bat fly around Emerson's living room, and putting a frozen caterpillar under his hat to carry home and thaw out. Simple sketches of the relevant animals, birds, and insects complement the journal entries, which are arranged by season.

[January Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

A complete joy to read. Very fun and enjoyable, and rather informative as well.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thoreau's Animals by Henry David Thoreau is a lovely book about the animals that Henry came across in his every day life.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoreau's Animals is the journal of Henry David Thoreau, expertly edited by Geoff Wisner. The journal entries are organized chronologically which wonderfully succeeds to create a more immersive experience along with the illustrations of some of the animals mentioned and a map at the end of book.

I felt as if i was taken back in time, seeing the same world Thoreau saw and enjoying how Concord and its creatures changed with every passing season. The love and respect he had for nature permeates every entry of his journal and makes you fall in love with it as well. If I ever visit Concord, MA, I know I wont feel like it is my first time and I know I will look at the entry corresponding to that season and try to search for the animals and landscapes that Thoreau so much loved.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a cute little book. I love that there's a selection of his original sketchbook drawings along with illustrations by Debby Cotter Kaspari included in this book. The choice to arrange this book by season gave me an immersive experience. I loved reading Thoreau's ramblings, especially because I grew up living near and frequently visiting Concord. Regardless of whether or not you live near Walden Pond or like Henry David Thoreau, I encourage you to check this book out.

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not a big fan of Thoreau, but I'll keep my thoughts to myself regarding his books. I was pleasantly surprised at this one, however. I had no idea he was such a great artist! Pleasantly surprised to see all the wonderful drawings he did of animals in his neighborhood. Fans of his will love this book. I only loved this one!

[Rick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This delightful book is a collection of passages gleaned from Thoreau's journals. Here is a favorite quote....."Surely the most important part of an animal is its anima, its vital part - on which is based it character, and all its peculiarities by which it most concerns us." (p. 231, from February 18, 1860)

[Marzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars

This is a lovely distillation of Thoreau's 14 volume Journal into a beautifully illustrated book of Thoreau's observations of animals in and around Concord and Walden Pond. Debby Cotter Kaspari's black and white illustrations add a great deal to the book. I was a little confused by the non-chronological order of journal entries at first, as the entries are organized by season rather than by year, starting from the early spring months, ending in winter months. But not confused enough that I couldn't enjoy the book, which has made me consider rereading Walden.

I look forward to seeing Thoreau's Wildflowers.