A Year in the Fields

"A Year in the Fields" by John Burroughs is a series of nature writings from the late 1800s that looks at Burroughs's close observations of the natural world as it changes through the year, showing the small details of animals and the loveliness of the land. Mostly set in the Catskills, the book mixes personal stories with deep ecological thoughts. It starts by pulling readers into Burroughs's thoughtful style, beginning with a lively picture of a snowstorm, as he thinks quietly about the coming snow. Then, he explains how the land changes and tells us what the local animals do as winter goes on. Burroughs paints a clear picture of how the snowfall affects everything around it, bringing to life every sense, from how it looks to the soft sounds of winter, creating wonder for the reader in nature’s cycles.