Letters to a Friend is a collection of correspondence between renowned conservationist John Muir and his friend Mrs. Ezra S. Carr, spanning from 1866 to 1879. This intimate and poignant collection offers readers an inside look into Muir's thoughts, reflections, and observations as he embarks on his various adventures.

Muir's letters are filled with vivid descriptions of the natural world, showcasing his deep love and admiration for the beauty of the wilderness. His writing is lyrical and poetic, transporting readers to the awe-inspiring landscapes he explores. Through his letters, Muir also reveals his philosophical musings on the importance of preserving the environment and living in harmony with nature.

What stands out most in this collection is the deep friendship and connection between Muir and Mrs. Carr. Their correspondence is marked by warmth, humor, and a shared love for the natural world. Muir's letters to Mrs. Carr offer a glimpse into the personal side of this legendary environmentalist, shedding light on his character, values, and beliefs.

Letters to a Friend is a captivating and insightful read for anyone interested in the life and work of John Muir. It provides a unique window into the mind of a pioneering environmentalist and celebrates the enduring power of friendship and the natural world.

Book Description:
When John Muir was a student in the University of Wisconsin he was a frequent caller at the house of Dr. Ezra S. Carr. The kindness shown him there, and especially the sympathy which Mrs. Carr, as a botanist and a lover of nature, felt in the young man's interests and aims, led to the formation of a lasting friendship. He regarded Mrs. Carr, indeed, as his "spiritual mother," and his letters to her in later years are the outpourings of a sensitive spirit to one who he felt thoroughly understood and sympathized with him. These letters are therefore peculiarly revealing of their writer's personality. Most of them were written from the Yosemite Valley, and they give a good notion of the life Muir led there, sheep-herding, guiding, and tending a sawmill at intervals to earn his daily bread, but devoting his real self to an ardent scientific study of glacial geology and a joyous and reverent communion with Nature. - Summary from the preface of the book.