The title of this popular 1920 classic by the eminent naturalist refers to two locales that inspired him to seek out not only their scientific wonders but also the stories behind their tradition and lore. The first, Dead Mans Plack, details the legend behind a memorial cross where Hudson went to explore the insect life and became immersed in investigating the murder story that occasioned it. The second, The Hawthorn and the Ivy Near the Great Ridge Wood, concerns a solitary tree whose beauty and the stories surrounding it, soon far outweigh his curiosity about its botanical habits.

William Henry Hudson (18411922) was an author, naturalist, and ornithologist. He was born in Argentina of Anglo-American parents. His is best known for his novelGreen Mansions, and for his non-fiction naturalist works. His travel narratives about his rambles around England helped foster the back-to-nature movement of the 1920s and 1930s.