Traces Of Thoreau: A Cape Cod Journey

by Stephen Mulloney

This modern companion to Henry David Thoreau's classic Cape Cod faithfully follows his 1849 walking tour from Orleans to Provincetown, vividly describing not only the differences between yesterday's Cape and today's but also their timeless similarities.
Mulloney's entertaining travelogue gives us nature by daywith captivating descriptions of plants, animals, and geological features - and civilization by night as he seeks food and lodging in beach communities swarming with visitors. Here one meets a delightful sampling of colorful Cape characters, from members of the cocktail set to Wellfleet oystermen encountered in a working-class bar.
Traces of Thoreau richly conveys the grandeur of beach and sky juxtaposed with fast food stands and miniature golf courses.

Paperback

First published June 19, 1998

Reviews

[Clark]

This book sort of goes in waves. Not so interesting to interesting. Wave by wave. The later portion of the book is by far the best. The main thing this book has going for it is Thoreau. I am glad Mulloney wrote some background on Thoreau and his time period. Sure is interesting that tourist towns do have a similar story to tell, no mater where they are located.

[Rick]

It's a personal story of a man who followed Thoreau's walking trips through Cape Cod, and some of my own trips there too. It's mostly pretty superficial until the end where it gets a lot better.