Project Gutenberg 2004-12-01 Public domain in the USA. 111 Kingsley, Charles 1819 1875 Kingley, Charles Kingsley, C. (Charles) Prose Idylls, New and Old A charm of birds -- Chalk-stream studies -- The fens -- My winter-garden -- From ocean to ocean -- North Devon. Transcribed from the 1882 Macmillan and Co. edition by David Price "Prose Idylls, New and Old" by Charles Kingsley is a collection of essays written in the late 19th century that reflects on nature, culture, and the simplicity of rural life. Through his prose, Kingsley explores themes of ecology, the changing relationship between humanity and nature, and the nostalgic yearning for the connection to the seasons that has been lost in the modern world. The opening essay, "A Charm of Birds," specifically addresses the beauty of birds and their songs, while lamenting contemporary society's detachment from the natural world. The beginning of "Prose Idylls, New and Old" introduces the reader to Kingsley’s contemplation of humanity's evolving view of nature, particularly spring and its rejuvenating spirit symbolized by songbirds. He contrasts past reverence for the seasons with modern indifference, suggesting that contemporary life, dominated by urban comforts, has dulled our appreciation for nature's cycles. The opening portion intricately discusses the significance and melodies of various birds, effectively arguing for a return to the joy and inspiration found in nature, as embodied by these feathered creatures. Through this nostalgic lens, Kingsley invites readers to recover a sense of wonder and connection with the natural world, which he perceives as essential for a fulfilling human experience. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Reading ease score: 65.2 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read. en English essays -- 19th century PR Text Category: Essays, Letters & Speeches Category: British Literature Category: Nature/Gardening/Animals 459806 2025-07-03T09:53:53.430866 text/html 462994 2014-11-05T16:36:19 text/html 825563 2025-07-03T09:54:01.132896 application/epub+zip 830387 2025-07-03T09:53:56.383847 application/epub+zip 249878 2025-07-03T09:53:55.172881 application/epub+zip 1019231 2025-07-03T09:54:04.839796 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 994743 2025-07-03T09:54:00.311834 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 387761 2022-09-04T04:13:56.670523 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 440940 2025-07-03T09:53:52.835885 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 441045 2014-11-05T16:36:14 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 18594 2025-07-03T09:54:04.963806 application/rdf+xml 14044 2025-07-03T09:53:55.662863 image/jpeg 3894 2025-07-03T09:53:55.416849 image/jpeg 178516 2014-11-05T16:40:19 application/octet-stream application/zip 741622 2014-11-05T16:40:19 application/octet-stream application/zip 820753 2025-07-03T09:53:53.480890 application/octet-stream application/zip Archives containing the RDF files for *all* our books can be downloaded at https://book.klll.cc/wiki/Gutenberg:Feeds#The_Complete_Project_Gutenberg_Catalog en.wikipedia