Bradford Torrey: New England Nature Writer

Abstract

EET Bradford Torrey, a fellow--suggests a bird with his bright eyes and shy ways and sensitiveness, wrote John Burroughs in his Journal, December 11, 1892.1 This fine-souled fellow was then forty-nine years of age, had written three of his books of nature sketches, had established a considerable reputation among ornithologists, and was a better botanist than his modesty would permit him to allow. Seven years later, after he had written three more books of the same kind, he was again mentioned with enthusiasm by Burroughs. This time, having just read some essays by the naturalist Charles C. Abbott and found them lacking in juice, unction, Burroughs declared, Torrey is the only nature writer at the present time whose works I can read.2