A guest post from regular contributor Seth Simmons.
A brief and very readable biography of America’s best known naturalist and ornithologist. John James Audubon traipsed all across a young United States as she was still expanding west, documenting birds and churning out hundreds of drawings. He was self-taught and derided by professionals in his early years, but some of his discoveries that contradicted popular wisdom were ultimately vindicated. Audubon had to take his work to Europe first to attract financial support for his book, but eventually America came to know and love him.
I cannot for the life of me remember how this book came across my path. It’s unlike anything I typically read. But it showed up on my holds list at the library, and I’m very glad I read it.
This Strange Wilderness: The Life and Art of John James Audubon by Nancy Plain Purchase Links: Paperback, Kindle Edition