In wildness is the preservation of the world."Here are three of Thoreau's most famous talks brought together in one volume. "Walking, " "Autumnal Tints, " and "Wild Apples" are all autumn essays--contemplative, deliberate, and insightful. They are profound reflections on nature, beauty, and our place in the world. In 1862, during Thoreau's last weeks, he received a request from The Atlantic Monthly's new editor, James Fields, to submit some of his work. These three were all published that year, after his death: "Walking" in June, "Autumnal Tints" in October, and "Wild Apples" in November. All three were also included in the collection Excursions, published in 1863.