“In wildness is the preservation of the world.”

Here are three of Thoreau’s most famous lectures brought together in one volume. “Walking,” “Autumnal Tints,” and “Wild Apples” are all autumn essays—contemplative, deliberate, and insightful. They are profound reflections on nature, beauty, and our place in the world. In 1862, during Thoreau’s last weeks, he received a request from The Atlantic Monthly’s new editor, James Fields, to submit some of his work. These three were all published that year, after his death: “Walking” in June, “Autumnal Tints” in October, and “Wild Apples” in November. All three were also included in the collection Excursions, published in 1863.

Linda Jones is an award-winning actor and narrator who was born and raised in Concord, Massachusetts. She has narrated several volumes of Thoreau’s work, and currently lives in Brooklyn, New York.