Rambles with John Burroughs

This intimate collection of essays offers something rare: a personal window into the life and philosophy of John Burroughs, the celebrated American naturalist who shaped how generations think about nature. R. J. H. De Loach traces his encounters with Burroughs at Slabsides, the naturalist's beloved rustic cabin, where the noise falls away and the natural world becomes a teacher. Through De Loach's reflections, we encounter Burroughs not as a distant literary figure but as a living presence, walking the woods, speaking honestly about what he sees, and rejecting any false or sentimental view of the outdoors. The essays also trace Burroughs' admiration for writers like Walt Whitman and Henry David Thoreau, placing him within a grand tradition of American nature writing that values direct experience over ornament. For readers who have felt the pull of forests and streams, who find solace in quiet observation, these pages offer a companionable voice and a philosophy rooted in simplicity and attention.