In his signature style, Thoreau muses on the ocean and his surroundings, as he combs the beaches of Cape Cod. Though written nearly 150 years ago, his essay is a compelling, sardonic portrait of coastal Massachusetts, its human and natural history. Published posthumously, the book originated as a series of lectures, where (according to none other than Ralph Waldo Emerson) the audience "laughed till they cried." It takes as its form a diary, combining essay, travel, natural history and social commentary.  (USE65, $14.00)