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Sketch of wildflower, lupine.Nature Study, Nature Writing: Past and Present

I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.

Henry David Thoreau, Walden

Dedicated to Frances Jane Goldsmith, a little girl who loved nature and reading


Abbey, Edward. Desert solitaire: a season in the wilderness. 1st ed. New York, McGraw-Hill, 1968. 269 p.
   PS3551.B2 25
   Abbey called the 1988 edition of Desert solitaire the final and definitive edition. PS3551.B2 Z463 1988

Ackerman, Diane. The moon by whale light: and other adventures among bats, penguins, crocodilians, and whales. 1st ed. New York, Random House, c1991. 249 p.
   QL81.A24 1991
   Also: Rarest of the rare: vanishing animals, timeless worlds. 1st ed. New York, Random House, c1995. 184 p. QH75.A32 1995

American nature writers. John Elder, editor. New York, Charles Scribner's Sons, c1996. 2 v.
   PS163.A6 1996 <SciRR>

Bailey, Liberty Hyde. The nature-study idea. New York, Doubleday, Page & Co., 1903. 246 p.
   QH51.B15

The Book of naturalists: an anthology of the best natural history. William Beebe, editor. Princeton, N.J., Princeton University Press, 1988. 499 p.
   QH81.B715 1988
   Originally published in 1944 by Knopf, New York. QH9.B4

Brainerd, John W. The nature observer's handbook: learning to appreciate our natural world. Chester, Conn., Globe Pequot Press, c1986. 253 p.
   QH81.B768 1986

Burgess, Thornton W. The Burgess seashore book for children. Boston, Little, Brown and Co., 1929. 336 p.
   QH91.B8

Burroughs, John. John Burroughs' America: slections from the writings of the Hudson River naturalist. Edited by Farida Wiley. New York, Devin-Adair, 1951. 304 p.
   QH81.B963 1951
   Dover edition published in 1997. QH81.B936 1997

Carson, Rachel. The edge of the sea. Boston, Houghton Mifflin, 1955. 276 p.
   QH91.C3
   Also: The sense of wonder. New York, Harper & Row, 1965, c1956. 89 p. QH51.C35
   This essay first published in July 1956 in Woman's home companion under the title "Help your child to wonder." A 1998 edition was printed by HarperCollins Publishers, New York, with an introduction by Linda Lear and new photographs by Nick Kelsh. QH51.C35 1998

Comstock, Anna B. Handbook of nature study. Ithaca, Comstock Pub. Associates, 1986, c1967. 887 p.
   QH51.C735 1986
   Originally published in 1939.

Cooper, Susan Fenimore. Rural hours By a lady. New York, G. P. Putnam, 1850. 521 p.
   QH81.C77
   Published also under title, "Journal of a naturalist in the United States." 1998 edition of Rural hours edited by Rochelle Johnson and Daniel Patterson. Athens, University of Georgia Press. 352 p. QH81.C793 1998

The Curious naturalist. 1st ed. Washington, D.C.. National Geographic Society, c1991. 288 p.
   QH104.C87 1991
   A 1998 reprint edition is available, but is not in the Library of Congress.

Dillard, Annie. Pilgrim at Tinker Creek. 1st U.S. ed. New York, Harper's Magazine Press, 1974. 271 p.
   QH81.D56 1974
   1998 edition published by HarperPerennial. 288 p. QH81.D56 1998

Douglas, Marjory Stoneman. The Everglades: river of grass. Rev. ed. St. Simons Island, Ga., Mockingbird Books, 1986 printing, c1947. 308 p.
   F317.E9D6 1986

Duda, Mark D. Virginia wildlife viewing guide. Helena, Mont., Falcon, c1994. 95 p.
   QL211.D83 1994

Duensing, Edward. Backyard and beyond: a guide for discovering the outdoors. Garden, Colo., Fulcrum Pub., c1992. 248 p.
   QH51.D84 1992

Durrell, Gerald M. The amateur naturalist. New York, Knopf; distributed by Random House, 1983, c1982. 320 p.
   QH51.D87 1983
   Also: My family and other animals. New York, Viking Press, 1957, c1956. 273 p. QH151.D8 1956a

Edelman, Jack R. The natural classroom: a directory of field courses, programs, and expeditions in the natural sciences. Golden, Colo., North American Press, c1996. 278 p.
   QH50.5.E34 1996

Ehrlich, Gretel. The solace of open spaces. New York, Viking, 1985. 131 p.
   PS3555.H72 Z476 1985

Ellis, Richard. Deep Atlantic: life, death, and exploration in the abyss. 1st ed. New York, Alfred A. Knopf, 1996. 395 p.
   GC87.2.A86E45 1996

Ernst, Ruth Shaw. The naturalist's garden: how to garden with plants that attract birds, butterflies, and other wildlife. 3d ed. Old Saybrook, Conn., Globe Pequot Press, c1996. 224 p.
   QL59.E76 1996
   Originally published in 1987 by Rodale Press, Emmaus, Pa. QL59.E76 1987

Gibson, William H. Sharp eyes: a rambler's calendar of fifty-two weeks among insects, birds, and flowers. New York, Harper & Brothers, 1892. 322 p.
   QH81.G45

Halle, Louis J. Spring in Washington. New York, William Sloan Associates, Inc., 1947. 234 p.
   QH81.H213
   1988 reprint available.

Headstrom, Richard. Memories from a naturalist's notebook: a year of favorite observations in the world of nature. New York, Prentice Hall Press, c1986. 246 p.
   QH81.H39 1986

Hutton, Rev. W. The book of nature laid open, in a popular survey of the phenomena and constitution of the universe; and the appearances of nature during each month of the year. First American from the 3d London edition. Georgetown (D.C.), J. Milligan, 1822. 281 p.
   QH81.H9
   The author's object was to lead the youthful mind to observe and contemplate the works of the Creator and convince him "that even the vilest weed and the meanest insect offer incontestible evidences of their Maker."

Johnson, Cathy. The naturalist's path: beginning the study of nature. New York, Walker, c1991.
   QH53.J643 1991

Krutch, Joseph Wood. The best nature writing of Joseph Wood Krutch. Salt Lake City, University of Utah Press, c1995. 384 p.
   QH81.K828 1995
   Collection of essays originally published between 1949-1970.

Leopold, Aldo. A Sand County almanac, and sketches here and there. New York, Oxford University Press, 1987, c1949. 228 p.
   QH81.L56 1987

Lopez, Barry H. Arctic dreams: imagination and desire in a northern landscape. New York, Scribner, c1986. 464 p.
   QH84.1.L67 1986

Lost woods: the discovered writing of Rachel Carson. Linda Lear, editor. Boston, Beacon Press, c1998. 267 p.
   QH81.C3546 1998
   Also by Linda Lear: Rachel Carson: witness for nature. 1st ed. New York, H. Holt, 1997. 634 p. QH31.C33L43 1997

McPhee, John A. Coming into the country. 1st ed. New York, Farrar, Strauss and Giroux, 1977. 438 p.
   F910.M29 1977

Muir, John. The wilderness world of John Muir. Edited by Edwin Teale. Houghton Mifflin, 1954. 332 p.
   QH31.M9A37
   Also: John Muir: the eight wilderness discovery books. London, Diadem Books; Seattle, Mountaineers, 1992. 1030 p. QH31.M78A25 1992

The Norton book of nature writing. Robert Finch and John Elder, editors. 1st ed. New York, W. W. Norton Press, c1990. 921 p.
   QH81.N67 1990

Peterson, Roger Tory. Wild America: the record of a 30,000-mile journey around the continent by a distinguished naturalist and his British colleague. Boston, Houghton Mifflin Co., c1997. 434 p.
   QH102.P38 1997
   Written with James Fisher; illustrated by Roger Tory Peterson. Originally published by Houghton Mifflin in 1955. QH102.P38

Quammen, David. The flight of the iguana: a sidelong view of science and nature. New York, Delacorte Press, 1988. 302 p.
   QH45.5.Q358 1988
   Also: Wild thoughts from wild places. New York, Scribner, c1998. 304 p. QH81.Q18 1998

Rockwell, David B. The nature of North America: a handbook to the continent: rocks, plants, and animals. 1st ed. New York, Berkley Books, 1998. 379 p.
   QH102.R63 1998

Russo, Monica. Watching nature: a beginner's field guide. New York, Sterling Pub. Co., c1998. 96 p.
   QL60.R87 1998

Safina, Carl. Song for the blue ocean: encounters along the world's coasts and beneath the seas. New York, Henry Holt, 1998. 458 p.
   SH327.7.S34 1998

Smith, Alison. The kids' nature almanac: great outdoor discoveries and activities for parents and children. New York, Crown Trade Paperbacks, c1995. 214 p.
   QH48.S63 1995

Talmage, James E. First book of nature. 2d and rev. ed. Salt Lake City, G. Q. Cannon & Sons, 1892. 306 p.
   QH48.T154
   Originally published in 1888.

Teale, Edwin Way. Autumn across America: a naturalist's record of a 20,000 mile journey through the North American autumn. New York, Dodd, Mead, 1956. 386 p.
   QH104.T36
   Also by Teale: Journey into summer: a naturalist's record of a 19,000 mile journey through the North American summer. New York, Dodd, Mead, 1960. 366 p. QH104.T39
   North with the spring: a naturalist's record of a 17,000 mile journey with the North American spring. New York, Dodd, Mead, 1951. 366 p. QH104.T42
   Wandering through winter: a naturalist's record of a 20,000 mile journey through the North American winter. New York, Dodd, Mead, 1965. 370 p. QH104.T43

Thomas, Lewis. The lives of a cell: notes of a biology watcher. New York, Viking Press, 1974. 153 p.
   QH331.T45 1974
   Also: Medusa and the snail: more notes of a biology watcher. New York, Viking Press, 1979. 175 p. QH311.T56 1979

Thoreau, Henry David. The illustrated Walden. With photos from the Gleason collection. J. Lyndon Shanley, editor. Princeton, N.J., Princeton University Press, 1973. 352 p.
   PS3048.A1 1973
   Walden was first published August 9, 1854.
   Also: Walden: an annotated edition. Foreword and notes by Walter Harding. Boston, Houghton Mifflin, 1995. 338 p. PS3048.A1 1995b

Verrill, A. Hyatt. Harper's book for young naturalists: a guide to collecting and preparing specimens, with descriptions of the life, habits and haunts of birds, insects, plants, etc. New York and London, Harper & Brothers, 1913. 381 p.
   QH61.V4
   One of the series of Harper's practical books for boys. No mention here of girls!

The Walker's companion. Elizabeth Ferber, et al. Alexandria, Va., Time-Life Books, Inc., c1995. 288 p.
   QH102.W34 1995
   A Nature Company guide.

Warner, William. Beautiful swimmers: watermen, crabs, and the Chesapeake Bay. 1st ed. Boston, Little, Brown, c1976. 304 p.
   SH380.45.U5W37

Wilds, Claudia P. Finding birds in the national capital area. 2d ed., rev. ed. Washington, Smithsonian Institution Press, c1992. 263 p.
   QL683.W37W54 1992 <SciRR>

Wilson, Edward O. Naturalist. Washington, D.C., Island Press/Shearwater Books, c1994. 380 p.
   QH31.W64A3 1994

Compiled by Stephanie Masten Marcus
April 1999

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