First published in 1863, 'Excursions' is a collection of essays by American transcendentalist Henry David Thoreau. It contains nine essays in total, as well as a biographical sketch of Thoreau by fellow transcendentalist Ralph Waldo Emerson. The essays are: 'Natural History of Massachusetts', 'A Walk to Wachusett', 'The Landlord', 'A Winter Walk', 'The Succession of Forest Trees', 'Walking', 'Autumnal Tints', 'Wild Apples', and 'Night and Moonlight'....

"Over a period of three years, Thoreau made three trips to the largely unexplored woods of Maine. He climbed mountains, paddled a canoe by moonlight, and dined on cedar beer, hemlock tea and moose lips. Taking notes constantly, Thoreau was just as likely to turn his observant eye to the habits and languages of the Abnaki Indians or the arduous life of the logger as he was to the workings of nature. He acutely observed the rivers, lakes, mountains,...