Idle Days in Patagonia

First published in 1893, W.H. Hudson's Idle Days in Patagonia is the narrative of his life's great adventure—a year in Patagonia. His time there climaxed 30 years as a naturalist, riding and roving in his native Argentina. His visit to this remote country fulfilled not only a private dream, but also a scientific mission. His collection of bird skins together with a brilliant report to the Zoological Society of London more than a century ago added greatly to his prestige as an ornithologist. In this book, Hudson's scientific interests harmonize perfectly with his extraordinary narrative and descriptive power. Its acute observation of nature and man, and its evocation of remote places and strange peoples mark him as a writer of keenness and distinction.