We Took to the Woods

by Louise Dickinson Rich

I first grew interested in New England’s “back to the land” movement after former Yankee editor Mel Allen told me that he considered his 1983 article “Leaving the Good Life,” about the pioneering homesteaders Helen and Scott Nearing, to be among the best he ever wrote. If you, too, are fascinated by those who follow their dream of living beyond the reach of civilization, We Took to the Woods is essential reading. In writing about her family’s wilderness existence in the Rangeley Lakes region of Maine, Louise Dickinson Rich hits the trifecta: Details bring the story alive, humor gives it warmth, and insight makes it timeless.

—Jenn Johnson, Yankee senior managing editor

In her early thirties, Louise Dickinson Rich took to the woods of Maine with her husband. They found their livelihood and raised a family in the remote backcountry settlement of Middle Dam, in the Rangeley area. Louise made time after morning chores to write about their lives. First published in 1942, We Took to the Woods became an instant bestseller.

But We Took to the Woods is more than an adventure story, more than a simple nature study: it portrays a cherished dream awakened into full life. Written with warmth, enthusiasm, and humor, it is a book to stir the imagination.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Down East Books
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 368 pages
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.2 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.38 x 0.89 x 7.69 inches