John James Audubon: The Making of an American
Language: English
Published by Knopf, 2004
- First Edition
- Hardcover
- Used

Seller: Pennywhistle Books, Greensboro, NC, U.S.A.Pennywhistle Books
AbeBooks seller since April 5, 2019
Condition: Used - Fine
US$ 9.45
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
Pages clean and unmarked; boards unblemished; dust jacket is clean and uncreased. Richly illustrated.
Seller Inventory # 001077
- Title
- John James Audubon: The Making of an American
- Author
- Rhodes, Richard
- Publisher
- Knopf
- Publication year
- 2004
- Condition
- Fine
- Dust jacket
- Fine
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Language
- English
- ISBN 10
- 0375414126
- ISBN 13
- 9780375414121
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- Dimensions
- 8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" tall
Rhodes shows us young Audubon arriving in New York from France in 1803, his illegitimacy a painful secret, speaking no English but already drawing and observing birds. We see him falling in love, marrying the wellborn English girl next door, crossing the Appalachians to frontier Kentucky to start a new life, fashioning himself into an American just as his adopted country was finding its identity.
Here is Audubon exploring the wilderness of birds–pelicans wading the shallows of interior rivers, songbirds flocking, passenger pigeons darkening the skies–and teaching himself to revivify them in glorious life-size images. Now he finds his calling: to take his hundreds of watercolor drawings to England to be engraved in a great multivolume work called The Birds of America. Within weeks of his arrival there in 1826, he achieves remarkable celebrity as “the American Woodsman.” He publishes his major work as well as five volumes of bird biographies enhanced by his authentic descriptions of pioneer American life.
Audubon’s story is an artist’s story but also a moving love story. In his day, communications by letter across the ocean were so slow and uncertain that John James and his wife, Lucy, almost lost each other in the three years when the Atlantic separated them–until he crossed the Atlantic and half the American continent to claim her. Their letters during this time are intimate, moving, and painful, and they attest to an enduring love.
We examine Audubon’s legacy of inspired observation–the sonorities of a wilderness now lost, the brash life of a new nation just inventing itself–precisely, truthfully, lyrically captured. And we see Audubon in the fullness of his years, made rich by his magnificent work, winning public honor: embraced by writers and scientists, fêted by presidents and royalty.
Here is a revelation of Audubon as the major American artist he is. And here he emerges for the first time in his full humanity–handsome, charming, volatile, ambitious, loving, canny, immensely energetic. Richard Rhodes has given us an indispensable portrait of a true American icon.
"Synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
Richard Rhodes’s Masters of Death and Why They Kill are available in Vintage paperback.
"About the title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Pennywhistle Books
Greensboro, NC, U.S.A.
AbeBooks seller since April 5, 2019
Shipping rates within U.S.A.
| Item | 5 to 18 business days | 3 to 6 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | US$ 4.75 | US$ 14.00 |
Payment methods
Store description
Our mission is to sell high quality history and current affairs selections, all with superb customer service in mind.
Specialty
used history and non-fictionSeller's business information
Pennywhistle Books
NC, U.S.A.
Terms of sale
Thanks for shopping with us!
We adhere to all terms and conditions set forth by AbeBooks.
We try to make our descriptions as accurate as possible. Please contact us through the "Contact the Bookseller" link with any questions you may have prior to ordering. Once your order is placed, we will ship your item(s) within 48 hours..
We accept payment from most major credit cards (see "Payment Methods). We do not accept checks, money orders, or PayPal payments. Please do not send any credit card information directly. AbeBooks will process your payment when you check out on their secure site.
.
Shipping terms
Our books usually ship within 2 business days from the United States. Shipping rates are based on books weighing 2.2 lbs. or 1 KG. If your book order is heavy or oversized, we may contact you to let you know extra shipping may be required. In very rare cases and for unexpected reasons, your book may take longer to arrive than quoted. If there is any problem with ordering or shipping, please contact us right away. We cannot be responsible for customer's errors when entering delivery or other information.