Cover of Under a Wild Sky: John James Audubon and the Making of The Birds of America

Under a Wild Sky: John James Audubon and the Making of The Birds of America

by William Souder · 2004

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John James Audubon is renowned for his masterpiece of natural history and art, The Birds of America, the first nearly comprehensive survey of the continent's birdlife. And yet few people understand, and many assume incorrectly, what sort of man he was. How did the illegitimate son of a French sea captain living in Haiti, who lied both about his parentage and his training, rise to become one of thegreatest natural historians ever and the greatest name in ornithology? In Under a Wild Skythis Pulitzer Prize finalist, William Souder reveals that Audubon did not only compose the most famous depictions of birds the world has ever seen, he also composed a brilliant mythology of self. In this dazzling work of biography, Souder charts the life of a driven man who, despite all odds, became the historical figure we know today.

Subject
biographybiographyMore like thisLess of thissciencescienceMore like thisLess of thishistoryhistoryMore like thisLess of this
Themes
naturenatureMore like thisLess of thisbirdsbirdsMore like thisLess of thisartartMore like thisLess of thisanimalsanimalsMore like thisLess of this
Setting
USAUSAMore like thisLess of this
Audience
adult
Length
medium · 370 pages

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