What do you think?
Rate this book
Audubon: Life & Art in the American Wilderness
John James Audubon--the dreamer, vagabond, romantic, and genius--was the archetype of the passionate and steadfast frontiersman. Combining meticulous scholarship with the dramatic life story of a naturalist and pioneer, Streshinsky reexamines the artist's journals and letters to tell the story of Audubon's quest, the origins of the American spirit, and the sacrifice that resulted in one of the world's greatest bodies of art: "The Birds of America". 22 illustrations.
- GenresBiographyNonfiction
408 pages, Hardcover
First published October 5, 1993
5 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
About the author
Shirley Streshinsky
10 books7 followersShirley Streshinsky is a novelist, biographer,and journalist who has been widely published in the U.S. and abroad.
Her non-fiction books include the biography AUDUBON, LIFE AND ART IN THE AMERICAN WILDERNESS. Her first book was AND I ALONE SURVIVED, based on the experience of the sole survivor of a small plane crash in the Sierra Nevada mountains, (with Lauren Elder), Literary Guild selection, Reader's Digest condensation, 18 foreign editions, and NBC movie for television; and OATS! A BOOK OF WHIMSY (with Maria Streshinsky).
Her historical novels include: THE SHORES OF PARADISE, GIFT OF THE GOLDEN MOUNTAIN, A TIME BETWEEN, and HERS THE KINGDOM. All were published originally in hardback by Putnam and paperback by Berkley, there were several editions in Europe, and three were best sellers in paperback. These titles along with the Audubon biography are all being reissued by Turner Publishing in 2013.
In a career that spans 40 years, Streshinsky's articles have been published regularly in such magazines as Redbook, the Ladies Home Journal, the Los Angeles Times magazine, and Glamour. Her travel stories have appeared in Travel & Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler, and scores of other publications. She has contributed to American Heritage, Preservation Magazine, AARP The Magazine and The American Scholar.
Her travel essays have been featured on National Public Radio's Savvy Traveler.
She is the recipient of the Society of Magazine Writer's Award for Excellence; the National Council for the Advancement of Education Writing award; she was cited by The Educational Press Association of America for "superlative achievement in features."
Streshinsky is a graduate of the University of Illinois. She was married to the late Ted Streshinsky, a photojournalist with whom she often collaborated. They have three grown children. She lives in Kensington, California, not far from the Oppenheimer's home at 1 Eagle Hill.
Her non-fiction books include the biography AUDUBON, LIFE AND ART IN THE AMERICAN WILDERNESS. Her first book was AND I ALONE SURVIVED, based on the experience of the sole survivor of a small plane crash in the Sierra Nevada mountains, (with Lauren Elder), Literary Guild selection, Reader's Digest condensation, 18 foreign editions, and NBC movie for television; and OATS! A BOOK OF WHIMSY (with Maria Streshinsky).
Her historical novels include: THE SHORES OF PARADISE, GIFT OF THE GOLDEN MOUNTAIN, A TIME BETWEEN, and HERS THE KINGDOM. All were published originally in hardback by Putnam and paperback by Berkley, there were several editions in Europe, and three were best sellers in paperback. These titles along with the Audubon biography are all being reissued by Turner Publishing in 2013.
In a career that spans 40 years, Streshinsky's articles have been published regularly in such magazines as Redbook, the Ladies Home Journal, the Los Angeles Times magazine, and Glamour. Her travel stories have appeared in Travel & Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler, and scores of other publications. She has contributed to American Heritage, Preservation Magazine, AARP The Magazine and The American Scholar.
Her travel essays have been featured on National Public Radio's Savvy Traveler.
She is the recipient of the Society of Magazine Writer's Award for Excellence; the National Council for the Advancement of Education Writing award; she was cited by The Educational Press Association of America for "superlative achievement in features."
Streshinsky is a graduate of the University of Illinois. She was married to the late Ted Streshinsky, a photojournalist with whom she often collaborated. They have three grown children. She lives in Kensington, California, not far from the Oppenheimer's home at 1 Eagle Hill.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 28, 2019
Read this and it was good for a bit, then I got to a point when I felt that I really didn't like Audubon as a person - then I realized the author didn't either. So that was pretty chill.
June 12, 2025
A satisfying biography of an iconic nature artist.
Goes from his birth in the West Indies as an illegitimate (although acknowledged) son of a wealthy Frenchman who had an estate in France and a sugar plantation in what is now Haiti. Brought to France to live with dad as a youth, then sent back to New World to escape conscription into Napoleon's army.... at which time his father had forged new travel papers giving the young John his father's surname for the first time.
While John was born into a comfortable life, his fortunes while on his own continually ran from prosperity to disaster. He did OK for a time as a merchant and businessman in Kentucky, but the cyclical business cycle torpedoed many a fortune.
A lifelong interest in drawing and watching birds eventually led to the books that made his name live forever in natural history and art. But even when he had finally latched onto his life's work and purpose, it was still a struggle to flog sales of subscriptions to the book "The Birds of America" on two continents.
Fortunately he lived long enough to enjoy the fruits of his long labors to the ultimate mistress, Art.
Goes from his birth in the West Indies as an illegitimate (although acknowledged) son of a wealthy Frenchman who had an estate in France and a sugar plantation in what is now Haiti. Brought to France to live with dad as a youth, then sent back to New World to escape conscription into Napoleon's army.... at which time his father had forged new travel papers giving the young John his father's surname for the first time.
While John was born into a comfortable life, his fortunes while on his own continually ran from prosperity to disaster. He did OK for a time as a merchant and businessman in Kentucky, but the cyclical business cycle torpedoed many a fortune.
A lifelong interest in drawing and watching birds eventually led to the books that made his name live forever in natural history and art. But even when he had finally latched onto his life's work and purpose, it was still a struggle to flog sales of subscriptions to the book "The Birds of America" on two continents.
Fortunately he lived long enough to enjoy the fruits of his long labors to the ultimate mistress, Art.
July 27, 2022
Fine research, but there’s nearly as much in this book about Audubon’s bickering with his in-laws as there is about the birds he saw (and discovered). Much of the language and imagery seems like it was from the 1950s: “virgin” forests, largely indistinguishable Indigenous nations, only passing mention of Audubon’s personal enslavement of Black Americans, etc etc.
The book reads like one long, missed opportunity.
The book reads like one long, missed opportunity.
January 11, 2026
Interesting, though in places repetitive biography of a convoluted man who worked hard, played hard and seemed to put himself and his goals before family.
August 23, 2009
A fascinating story of the life of the greatest bird artist of America. Without formal training, the young Audubon started by sketching birds and wildlife. He combed the wilderness of many states to find his specimens. He amasses a huge portfolio over many years and traveled to England to find subscribers and printers. He finally gained acceptance by the Royal Society and other naturalist organizations anf professionals. In the process he had to leave his family in American for many years and suffer many hardships before being recognized. His Birds of America is the finest work of its kind and will never be duplicated.
March 4, 2012
Sometimes, a little too much detail. Around J J Audubon's bio, the author wrote about the history that happened at the time. From the Louisiana Purchase to the 1849 California Gold Rush, it proved interesting. Plus all the people he met in his life, makes for good reading. If history and nature are your passions, you were meant to read this book.
May 27, 2014
Audubon in depth.
Four and a half of five.
The writing style is perhaps a bit terse, but not inappropriate for the subject. What a wealth of material Audubon left and what a project to winnow down to a single volume. Does a great job conveying the energy,persistence and vision of the greatest artist/naturalist of early America and the standard by which others are measured.
Four and a half of five.
The writing style is perhaps a bit terse, but not inappropriate for the subject. What a wealth of material Audubon left and what a project to winnow down to a single volume. Does a great job conveying the energy,persistence and vision of the greatest artist/naturalist of early America and the standard by which others are measured.
March 29, 2010
It took me a while to read this and I read quite a few books in between, but really glad I finished and enjoyed learning about this avid naturalist, outdoorsman, and artist. Streshinsky made this very readable and the research was incredible.
July 11, 2010
I'll have to pick up on this thick library book later on, as I'm still curious about his life. It was a slow read for me.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews