John James Audubon came to America as a dapper eighteen-year-old eager to make his fortune. He had a talent for drawing and an interest in birds, and he would spend the next thirty-five years traveling to the remotest regions of his new country–often alone and on foot–to render his avian subjects on paper. The works of art he created gave the world its idea of America. They gave America its idea of itself.
Here Richard Rhodes vividly depicts Audubon’s life and career: his epic wanderings; his quest to portray birds in a lifelike way; his long, anguished separations from his adored wife; his ambivalent witness to the vanishing of the wilderness. John James Audubon: The Making of an American is a magnificent achievement.
Reviews:
The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/31/books/review/john-james-audubon-the-birdman-of-america.html
The Economist: Birds on a Wire: https://www.economist.com/books-and-arts/2004/08/05/birds-on-a-wire
(wikipedia)
Penguin Book's Site for book:https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/141605/john-james-audubon-by-richard-rhodes/9780375713934/
Videos and Films:
John James Audubon: The Birds of America: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQijoWmzvTo
PBS: The Masters: Drawn from Nature: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/john-james-audubon-drawn-from-nature/106/
Audubon: The Film: http://www.audubonthefilm.com/
(Audubon.org)
John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove - new center open and with an Exhibit of his work: http://johnjames.audubon.org/; https://www.audubon.org/birds-of-america?site=johnjames&nid=4131
National Audubon Society: https://www.audubon.org/
Local Chapter: Bucks County Audubon Society at Honey Hollow Environmental Center: https://www.bcas.org/
Interesting Articles:
So big it needs its own furniture: http://mentalfloss.com/article/520325/audubons-birds-america-book-so-big-it-needed-its-own-furniture
Going for $10 million: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2012/jan/06/most-expensive-book-birds-of-america-10m
Our Namesake and Inspiration: https://www.audubon.org/content/john-james-audubon
ROAD TRIPS:
New York Historical Society: https://www.nyhistory.org/explore/john-james-audubon
On Display in Chicago at the Field Museum from now until Dec. 1, 2019:
https://blockclubchicago.org/2019/04/24/rare-audubon-book-showing-north-americas-birds-now-on-display-at-field-museum/
E-notes: https://www.enotes.com/topics/john-james-audubon-richard-rhodes
Discussion Questions: (Heidi will be leading)
1. Discuss and describe who Audubon was, his complicated
background, talents, appearance, family life, bird collecting, extensive travels, successes
and failures. See pp: 4, 11, 18, 21-, 95, 114-, 124-, 230, 233, 253, 298, 329, 341, 418-, 432
2. The early 1800s were a fascinating and challenging time
period with the expansion into the west, the development of the steam engine,
Louisiana Purchase, the War of 1812, July Revolution of 1830, Industrial Revolution, passage over the Atlantic, disease, etc. Discuss how these impacted Audubon
and affected his life. See pp: 21, 121, 132, 136, 338, 343-
3. The Panic of 1819 was the first major economic crisis and
depression in America and had a profound affect on Audubon’s life. Discuss
these impacts including the loss of his business, his marriage and family life,
relationships, his mental health and work. How does the 2nd crisis affect him in 1837? See pp: 138- , 249, 400.
4. In 1816 was the year without a summer and communities
turned to nature to survive. Discuss the story about the Passenger pigeons,
which are now extinct, but were plentiful during this period. See pages: 112, 127-130. Discuss other destruction of the environment, that he sees during his life. See pp. 337, 384
5. Audubon was a colorful character and had many adventures,
including pirates, quicksand, earthquakes, fights, traveling the wild
Mississippi, a mysterious naked woman, years apart from this family, alligators in FL, etc.
Discuss these and see pages: 85, 96, 116, 140, 169, 180, 302, 361-
6. There were many fascinating men and women who lived and
achieved greatness during these times, including Mary Shelley, Humboldt,
Darwin, Bartram, Peale, etc. Discuss who he met and was greatly influenced and
impacted by, including Alex Wilson, Charles Bonaparte, Berthoud, Syme, Nuttall,
Vanderlyn, Bachman, Thomas Sully, Sir Walter Scott, Henry Clay, Rathbones, Andrew Jackson, President Houston, etc. See
pp: 144, 150, 166-167, 186, 215, 219-221, 224, 252-, 276, 283-285, 305-, 352, 396-
7. Creatures were still being discovered, collected and
named. Discuss and can you identify some of the different names used for the
birds and animals we know today, including: mosquito hawks, tufted ducks, black
bellied darters, swallow tailed hawk, white headed eagle, great footed hawk,
carrion crows, red breasted thrushes, etc. See pages: 158, 178.
8. Discuss Audubon’s painting and his processes which evolved over
the years and the challenges from destructive wood rats to losing them,
watercolors and oils, finding time and money to realize his dream as well as
the men who handled his engravings (Lizars and Havell) and how he sold and
developed his famous work, The Birds of America. See pp: 116, 163, 169, 210,
217, 261, 273, 285, 293-294, 299-304, 341, 345-, 403-
(Audubon.org)
