Riverby by John Burroughs (1871)

Name: Riverby
Author: John Burroughs

The narrative revolves around the author's experiences and observations while living near a river. He describes the natural surroundings, including the river itself, its inhabitants, and the changing seasons. The text also touches on themes of solitude, nature, and the human relationship with the environment.

By John Burroughs · First published 1871 · Genre: Nature Writing, Essays, Memoir · 33 chapters · 94,195 words

First lines

Nearly every season I make the acquaintance of one or more new flowers. It takes years to exhaust the botanical treasures of any one considerable neighborhood, unless one makes a dead set at it, like an herbalist. One likes to have his floral acquaintances come to him easily and naturally, like his other friends. Some pleasant occasion should bring you together. You meet in a walk, or touch elbows on a picnic under a tree, or get acquainted on a fishing or camping-out expedition. What comes to you in the way of birds or flowers, while wooing only the large spirit of open-air nature, seems like special good fortune. At any rate, one does not want to bolt his botany, but rather to prolong the course. One likes to have something in reserve, something to be on the lookout for on his walks. I have never yet found the orchid called calypso, a large, variegated purple and yellow flower, Gray says, which grows in cold, wet woods and bogs, -- very beautiful and very rare. Calypso, you know, was the nymph who fell in love with Ulysses and detained him seven years upon her island, and died of a broken heart after he left her. I have a keen desire to see her in her floral guise, reigning over some silent bog, or rising above the moss of some dark glen in the woods, and would gladly be the Ulysses to be detained at least a few hours by her.

What this Textopian page supports

Riverby is listed on Textopian as an essay by John Burroughs, dated 1871 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Essay
Author: John Burroughs
Date: 1871 CE
Language: English
Genres: Nature Writing, Essays, Memoir, Philosophy, Travel Literature
Length: 94,195 words
Structure: 33 chapters, 608 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

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Similar titles

Genres

Nature Writing — The book extensively explores natural landscapes and the author's observations of wildlife.
Essays — It consists of reflective essays that delve into personal experiences and philosophical musings.
Memoir — The narrative includes autobiographical elements, detailing the author's life and experiences in nature.
Philosophy — Themes of contemplation and the relationship between humanity and nature are prevalent throughout the text.