"Ways of Wood Folk" by William Joseph Long is a charming and insightful collection of nature essays that provides readers with a glimpse into the lives of various woodland creatures. Long's deep love and appreciation for the natural world shine through in his vivid descriptions and engaging storytelling.

Each essay in the book focuses on a different animal, from chipmunks to owls to foxes, and illuminates their unique behaviors and characteristics. Long's writing is both informative and poetic, allowing readers to not only learn about these creatures, but also to feel a connection to them.

One of the things that stands out most about this book is Long's ability to capture the beauty and magic of the natural world. His descriptions of the forest, the streams, and the animals that inhabit them are so vivid that it feels as if you are right there beside him, experiencing it all firsthand.

Overall, "Ways of Wood Folk" is a delightful read that will appeal to anyone who has a love for nature and a curiosity about the creatures that call our forests home. Long's passion for the subject shines through on every page, making this book a must-read for nature enthusiasts of all ages.

Book Description:
Late nineteenth-century naturalist William J. Long invites us in to the secret worlds of the woodland animals. Containing Long's own animal observations along with stories related to him by other humans who inhabit the woods, these stories give us an insight into the behavior of wild animals as they go about their lives in their own secret places deep in the forests of eastern North America. Although Long was accused in his day of anthropomorphizing the animals he wrote about, readers who are familiar with any of the animals he writes of will have glimpses of recognition at behaviors they have seen for themselves and explore the deeper meanings these actions have in that animal's life. The stories will paint pictures in your imagination that will stay with you long after the book has ended.