Time and Change

Burroughs, John, 1837-1921Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.7

Word count: 372K words
Chapters: 38

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Time and Change by John BurroughsAuthor: Burroughs, John, 1837-1921,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: May 1, 2004

Editor's review

This collection of essays by John Burroughs explores nature and time, and is best savored in a quiet reading setting. A late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century American nature writer, Burroughs observed the turning of the seasons and the life of mountains, rivers, plants, and trees in plain, unadorned prose, blending natural phenomena with reflections on life. The book's strength lies in its avoidance of scientific jargon: it records nature's subtle changes in an essayistic style, letting readers sense the traces time leaves on the natural world. It suits early-morning or evening reading, and can also serve as a companion text for studying nature writing and English prose. Readers used to fast-paced reading will need to slow down to feel the calm and reflection behind the words. Overall, it offers a perspective for understanding time and change through observing nature, combining literary quality with thoughtful depth.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy nature writing and personal essays
Readers who wish to slow their reading pace and savor a sense of quiet in the prose
General readers with a philosophical interest in time and change
Readers studying English prose style who need examples

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking strong plots and fast-paced narrative
Readers looking for systematic scientific knowledge or data-driven support
Readers who find English prose difficult and are unwilling to look up words

Reading tips

Read one or two essays a day, then pause to recall the natural scenes described.
Keep a notebook, copy sentences about time and change, and write down your own observations.
Consult a Chinese translation or look up unfamiliar words first to lower the barrier, then read through.
Start with chapters whose season matches your own surroundings for greater immersion.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book suitable for readers with only a basic command of English?

This is English prose: the language is plain but includes some literary expression. Readers with basic English can read with a dictionary or a bilingual edition, focusing on the author's way of observing nature rather than understanding every word. If the goal is to study English prose, short essays are best for close reading.

What themes does Burroughs mainly discuss in this book?

The book centers on time and change. By observing the cycle of the seasons and the flourishing and fading of plants, the author reflects on the passage of time and the changes of life. He records natural details in essay form and weaves in personal reflections rather than offering a systematic scientific account.

How is this book different from ordinary popular science books about nature?

Its main purpose is not to teach scientific knowledge but to present observations of nature and reflections on life in a literary style. Readers gain an aesthetic experience and intellectual stimulation rather than data and conclusions. It is best read as literature, not as a popular science reference.

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About the author

Burroughs, John, 1837-1921 Author

John Burroughs (1837-1921) was an American nature writer. A lifelong observer of rural plants, birds, and animals, he recorded the changing seasons and his experiences in the field in essays and sketches. His style is plain and delicate, combining the accuracy of natural history with literary readability. The library holds 25 of his works, including Wake-Robin, A Year in the Fields, Riverby, Ways of Nature, Fresh Fields, Birds and Bees, Sharp Eyes, and Other Papers, and Camping with President Roosevelt. These works mostly concern birds, insects, country life, and nature observation. He often begins with ordinary natural scenes and blends personal experience with reflection on nature, in language that is simple yet warm. His writing has influenced later nature essays and ecological writing. Public information on his education, posts, and specific experiences is limited, so no speculation is offered here.