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William J. Long
William Joseph Long was an American writer, naturalist and minister. He lived and worked in Stamford, Connecticut as a minister of the First Congregationalist Church.
As a naturalist, he would leave Stamford every March, often with his son, Brian, and two daughters, Lois and Cesca, to travel to "the wilderness" of Maine. There they would stay until the first snows of October, although sometimes he would stay all winter. In the 1920s, he began spending his summers in Nova Scotia, claiming "the wilderness is getting too crowded".
He wrote of these wilderness experiences in the books Ways of Wood Folk, Wilderness Ways, Wood-folk Comedies, Northern Trails, Wood Folk at School, and many others. His earlier books were illustrated by Charles Copeland; two later ones were illustrated by Charles Livingston Bull. Long believed that the best way to experience the wild was to "plant yourself and sit for hours on end to let the wild come to you; and they will!"
Books by William J. Long
Ways of Wood Folk
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...
Wilderness Ways
This Book invites you on an awe-inspiring journey through the untouched landscapes of the wild. Unravel the hidden mysteries of the natural world as Long delves deep into the hearts of forests, meadows, and mountain ranges, revealing the astonishing...
Northern Trails, Book 2
Travel to the far reaches of the North Woods, where wild animals roam and nature's secrets are hidden. In Northern Trails, Book 2, William J. Long takes readers on a journey to the remote and wild corners of the North Woods. Long was a naturalist wh...
A Little Brother to the Bear
In the heart of the North American wilderness, where towering trees stand as silent sentinels and the air hums with the secrets of the forest, William Joseph Long's A Little Brother to the Bear invites us into a world of wonder and enchantment. Thro...
Wood Folk at School
Embark on an unforgettable adventure with the Wood Folk, a group of nature-loving children guided by the wise and knowledgeable Woodmaster, as they explore the wonders of the natural world in William Joseph Long's enchanting book, Wood Folk at School...