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Cover of The natural history of Selborne by Gilbert White

The natural history of Selborne

  • 381 pages · about 6 hours
  • First published 1789
  • 75 editions
  • Free to read

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1 About this book

The Natural History and Antiquities of Selborne, or just The Natural History of Selborne is a book by English parson-naturalist Gilbert White (1720–1793). It was first published in 1789 by his brother Benjamin. It has been continuously in print since then, with nearly 300 editions up to 2007.

The book was published late in White's life, compiled from a mixture of his letters to other naturalists—Thomas Pennant and Daines Barrington; a 'Naturalist's Calendar' (in the second edition) comparing phenological observations made by White and William Markwick of the first appearances in the year of different animals and plants in South East England, particularly in and around Selborne and Sussex; and observations of natural history organized more or less systematically by species and group. A second volume, less often reprinted, covered the antiquities of Selborne. Some of the letters were never posted and were written for the book.

Summary adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Good for readers who want: nature, history, a true life story, and a book they can read free online.

  • Sciences naturelles
  • Natural history
  • Nature photography
  • History
  • Natural history, great britain
  • Natural sciences
  • Biography
  • Ornithology

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3 About Gilbert White

1720–1793

Gilbert White (18 July 1720 – 26 June 1793) was a "parson-naturalist", a pioneering English naturalist, ecologist, and ornithologist. He is best known for his Natural History and Antiquities of Selborne.

Bio adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

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