The primary theme of Hudson's autobiography is man's relationship with nature, seen not as adversarial but rather as nurturing to body and spirit.

By presenting selected episodes from his childhood and youth, Hudson clarifies his own experiences in nature. Besides the wondering, sensitive, and thoroughly appealing protagonist, few characters receive more than brief sketches.

Hudson's father, a kindly but somewhat incautious man, is recalled primarily for his courage, having shown himself fearless in the face of human and natural dangers. His mother, who receives greater attention, appears warm and supportive. Neither parent believes in punishing children; they seldom interfere with the children's activities, and Hudson praises their laissez-faire attitudes. Among his siblings, Hudson feels closest to a younger brother, and this attachment, he says, prolongs his own childhood. Yet he receives more guidance from his independent older brother Edwin, who introduces him to the...