Henry Beston's Cape Cod: How "The Outermost House" Inspired a National Seashore

by Don Wilding

For 85 years, Henry Beston's "The Outermost House" has been THE definitive book about Cape Cod. Now, Don Wilding, co-founder of the Henry Beston society, tells the story behind Beston's timeless nature classic. Learn How The Outermost House inspired legislators in Washington to establish the Cape Cod National Seashore. How Henry Beston's trail to Cape Cod began at the Battle of Verdun in World War I. The influence that Henry Beston and "The Outermost House" had on Rachel Carson, other nature writers, and the American environmental movement. The Cape Cod stories that you won't find in "The Outermost House." The winter hurricane that claimed Beston's house in 1978.

102 pages, Paperback

First published July 3, 2013

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very informative, though maybe too brief assessment of Beston's time writing the Outermost House.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading Beston's The Outmost House, Thoreau's Cape Cod, and John Hay's The Run, I discovered Don Wilding's book and thought of it as the next layer in discovering natural Cape Cod. ( I might add Joan Anderson's books, too.)

This book helped me understand more about Beston and his motives for living over a year in the dunes of what is now the Cape Cod National Seashore. I learned more about Beston, his family, his Eastham community, and the storms that shaped this community. The book also offered up ways to expand my knowledge of natural Cape Cod by telling me about authors such as Rachel Carson, Robert Finch, and Robert Wolfe.

After reading his book I was inspired to attend one of his walking tour lectures which served as a superb culminating experience. I recommend his book and his walking tour.

[Amerynth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don Wilding has put together an enjoyable little biography of Henry Beston, who wrote a lovely book about his life on Cape Cod. I'm sure this is a bit of a niche book -- probably very few people have heard of Henry Beston and even fewer want to really take a deep dive look at his life, but Wilding's book is enjoyable and a quick read.

[Mark Mortensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don Wilding, co-founder of the Henry Beston Society presents a biography of Henry Beston Sheahan as a compliment to the ever popular timeless Cape Cod nature book “The Outermost House” by Henry Beston first published in 1928. Note the name differential.

The easy to read is book full of abundant information and I will leave many of the facts for a reader to explore. The “Outermost House, a sparse 20’ X 16’ dwelling known as Fo’castle, was constructed in 1925 in Eastham on the dunes of Nauset Beach overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. At the time Beston was 37 years old, still single and seeking solace to forget the horrors he witnessed during service in World War I. Wilding mentioned many folks dream of lengthy secluded solitude surrounded by nature but few actually follow through. In 1964 Fo’castle was made a National Literary Landmark. Four years later in 1969 Beston passed away. Sadly in early February 1978 Mother Nature took its toll on Fo’castle and reclaimed the dwelling back to the sand and sea. During the “Blizzard of 78” the rising powerful riptide and 92 mph winds destroyed the dunes and pulled the cabin into the pounding waves. It’s important to comprehend that the Fo’castle was simply a mere shelter as Bestons’ focus morning, noon and night every day of the year was always outside with nature.

My father and I both enjoyed Beston’s “The Outermost House”. Growing up I had the fortune of having the 909 acre Great Brook State Park directly outside my back door and this land of wonder drew me to nature and later naturalists Thoreau and Beston. In 1845 Henry David Thoreau at age 27 lived in a cabin similar to Fo’castle at the edge of the Walden Pond for over a year. As a youth I took summer Red Cross swimming lessons at Walden. During English class my thoughts would also drift to Thoreau as his cabin once stood only ½ mile down Walden Street from our high school in Concord, Mass. Ever since I was born (1952) I would spend many days with my grandparents’ on Cape Cod. Like Beston the Cape also served as a soothing environment for my grandfather, who also served during World War I (Marine Corps). Their cottage served as my 2nd home. When my grandparents passed away in the early 1980’s my parents inherited the cottage as a vacation home. It continued to serve as my base for exploring coastal nature and my favorite destination, Beston's stomping ground of the Nauset dunes, beach and surf.


Beston's cottage

[Kirk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eastham!!!!!!!!!