Henry Beston planned to spend only a few weeks in his new Cape Cod summer cottage, but fell in love with the nature of the region and remained, living there alone for a year. First published in 1928, these are his reflections on the sea, the weather and the animal life of the coast. The house is no longer there (it was swept out to sea in 1978), but this book remains a much-loved piece of the American nature writing tradition.  (USE41, $15.99)