Cape Cod

by Henry David Thoreau

Overview

"Unquestionably the best book that has ever been written about Cape Cod, and it is the model to which all new books about the Cape are still compared." — Walter Harding, The Days of Henry Thoreau
The man whose name is synonymous with contemplative rural life took a series of beach-combing walking trips around Cape Code in the early 1850s. These trips to the Cape, Thoreau wrote, were intended to afford "a better view than I had yet had of the ocean." The success of the great naturalist's expeditions lies in this compelling account of the region's plants, animals, topography, weather, and people.
Encounters with the ocean dominate Cape Cod, from the opening episode's dramatic shipwreck to later reflections on the Pilgrims' historic arrival. Along the way, Thoreau recounts the experiences of fishermen and oystermen, farmers and salvagers, lighthouse-keepers, and ship captains. These chronicles of exploration, settlement, and survival constitute a fascinating history of New England. Equally captivating as a travel guide or at-home entertainment, this volume offers convivial and authoritative companionship.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780486434933
Publisher:	Dover Publications
Publication date:	03/19/2004
Series:	Dover Value Editions Series
Pages:	208
Sales rank:	286,982
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)
Age Range:	3 Months to 18 Years

About the Author

Essayist, poet, and philosopher, Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) ranks among America's foremost nature writers. The Concord, Massachusetts native spent most of his life observing the natural world of New England, and his thoughts on leading a simple, independent life are captured in his best-known work, Walden.

Date of Birth:

July 12, 1817

Date of Death:

May 6, 1862

Place of Birth:

Concord, Massachusetts

Place of Death:

Concord, Massachusetts

Education:

Concord Academy, 1828-33); Harvard University, 1837

Table of Contents

I	The Shipwreck	3
II	Stage-Coach Views	21
III	The Plains of Nauset	35
IV	The Beach	65
V	The Wellfleet Oysterman	91
VI	The Beach Again	117
VII	Across the Cape	149
VIII	The Highland Light	174
IX	The Sea and the Desert	205
X	Provincetown	247

Editorial Reviews

"Cape Cod is Thoreau's sunniest, happiest book. It bubbles over with jokes, puns, tall tales, and genial good humor. . . . Unquestionably the best book that has ever been written about Cape Cod, and it is the model to which all new books about the Cape are still compared."---Walter Harding, The Days of Henry Thoreau

From the Publisher

Cape Cod is Thoreau's sunniest, happiest book. It bubbles over with jokes, puns, tall tales, and genial good humor. . . . Unquestionably the best book that has ever been written about Cape Cod, and it is the model to which all new books about the Cape are still compared.

The Days of Henry Thoreau - Walter Harding

Cape Cod is Thoreau's sunniest, happiest book. It bubbles over with jokes, puns, tall tales, and genial good humor. . . . Unquestionably the best book that has ever been written about Cape Cod, and it is the model to which all new books about the Cape are still compared.
— Walter Harding

The Days of Henry Thoreau