Prologue Summary and Analysis

This one page note from the author, North, is very important. North says that his own childhood resembles Thoreau's. He too builds a boat and a cabin in the woods. Growing up in rural Wisconsin, he also enjoys the sounds of wildlife and the distant hoot of a far off train whistle. However, once he reads Thoreau's writings, North becomes even more fascinated with the life cycles and details of plants and animals around him. He even quits hunting in order to spare wildlife.

North urges his audience to take a copy of "Walden, Or Life in the Woods" into a wilderness setting and read it slowly. This, he claims, will give the reader a sense of peace and well being.

This introduction helps us to understand why North later skips or eliminates aspects of Thoreau's life. His goal is to...