Clifton Johnson Bücher

Als Henry David Thoreau sich 1857 entschließt, gemeinsam mit einem Freund die Urwälder von Maine zu durchqueren, heuert er einen kundigen Indianer an, ohne den eine so abenteuerliche Reise nicht zu bestehen war. Joseph Polis heißt der Mann, er hat ein Kanu, und er ist genau der Richtige für den nicht ungefährlichen Weg durch die Wälder, Sümpfe und Seen. Versehen mit dem nötigen Proviant und der richtigen Kleidung, machen sie sich auf ihren Weg durch das unentdeckte Land. Es ist ein Weg, auf dem Thoreau vieles lernt, nicht zuletzt durch den Indianer an seiner Seite, der uraltes Wissen und die Vorteile der Zivilisation durchaus zu verbinden weiß. Er erkennt, was ihm die Sprache der Natur vermitteln kann, wenn er ihre Zeichen zu deuten und ihren vielen Stimmen zu lauschen versteht. Es ist eine überaus farbige, oft auch heitere Schilderung aus der Zeit der wahren Entdeckung Amerikas und aus der Feder eines großen Vordenkers des gelingenden Lebens.

First published in 1894, 'An English Village' is a delightful account of rural life in England at the turn of the 20th century. Written by Clifton Johnson, an American traveller and photographer, the book is a charming portrait of a world that has long since disappeared. From descriptions of local characters and customs to vivid accounts of the countryside and its wildlife, 'An English Village' is essential reading for anyone interested in the history and culture of rural England.

It is believed that the volumes in this Picturesque River Series are sufficiently comprehensive in their text to make them distinctly valuable as guide books; and at the same time they are compact enough in size not to be burdensome to those who wish to carry them in trunk or bag. There is, of course, no attempt to give a detailed catalog of all the charms of any particular stream, for that could only be done at a sacrifice of readableness. But the more striking features -- picturesque, historic, literary, legendary -- have received ample attention. A great variety of volumes more or less closely related to the story of each river has been consulted, and many fragments of fact and fancy have been culled from such sources and woven into the text of the present series; but there is also included much which is the result of personal observation, and of contact with chance acquaintances, who furnish to every traveller a great deal of the pleasure and human interest of any particular journey. The numberous pictures were all made especially for these books with the intent of supplying an attractive summary of each stream's individuality. All in all, the books, both in their literary and pictorial features, are of such a character that they should be of general interest and in a marked degree serviceable to whoever wishes to make a journey beside or on any of the rivers that find place in this series.

This illustrated travelogue takes the reader on a journey along the St. Lawrence River from Montreal to Kingston, capturing the beauty of the landscape and the charm of the towns and villages along the way. Johnson's vivid descriptions and stunning photographs make this book a must-read for anyone who has visited or plans to visit the region.

It is not always easy for a writer, in selecting a title for a new book, to hit on one that exactly meets all the needs of the subject. There must often be some compromise, some sacrifice. Thus, in the case of the present volume, the title may prove misleading if taken too literally. The paths I trod were not always secluded, or those with which our tourists are unfamiliar; and I can only offer the excuse that they always receive a "byway" treatment. It is a book of strolling, a book of nature, a book of humble peasant life, intermingled with the chance experiences of the narrator. It has little to do with large towns, but much with rural villages, farm firesides, the fields, and the country lanes. I finish it with the hope that it may be accorded the same pleasant reception given its predecessor, "Among English Hedgerows." -- Clifton Johnson

John Burroughs was an American naturalist, essayist, and literary critic. This book is a collection of his talks, in which he reflects on his life, his work, and the natural world that he loved. The talks are full of insight and wisdom, and provide a fascinating glimpse into the mind of a great thinker.