In this Book
- Commonwealth of Wings: An Ornithological Biography Based on the Life of John James Audubon
- Book
- 1991
- Published by: Wesleyan University Press
summary
Combining the best of poetry, nature writing, a biography, Pamela Alexander in her book-length “persona poem” brings to life John James Audubon and a world not yet aware of nature’s limits. She distills the essence of this remarkable naturalistic-artist and gives him voice to tell his life story in fragments and letters, journal entries, actual vignettes, and lyrical passages. Captivating, and accessible, her poem reads with the authority of autobiography, the dramatic coherence of a novel, and the evocative clarity of an Audubon print. The reader, briefly transported to the natural world of America a century and a half ago, cannot help but contrast its condition today and feel a poignant sense of loss.
Table of Contents
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- 1.1785-1803
- pp. 1-10
- Audubon Enfant
- p. 1
- Nantes, the Revolution
- pp. 3-4
- At Coueron. My First Gun.
- pp. 6-7
- Father's Home
- p. 8
- We Are Gentlemen Abroad
- pp. 9-10
- II. 1803-1808
- pp. 11-16
- Mill Grove
- p. 11
- The Current
- p. 14
- Letter to Lucy
- p. 15
- III. 1808-1826
- pp. 17-28
- The Inn, Louisville
- p. 18
- A Visit from Wilson
- p. 19
- A Profitable Life
- p. 22
- Arrangements
- p. 24
- Letter to Lucy
- p. 26
- Journal, at Sea
- p. 28
- iv. 1826-1829
- pp. 29-38
- Letter to Lucy
- p. 30
- From My Journal
- p. 31
- Letter to Victor
- pp. 35-36
- I Imagine Thee
- p. 37
- v. 1829-1840
- pp. 39-51
- Cape Florida
- p. 41
- Consolation
- p. 42
- Inventory. Journal.
- pp. 47-48
- Aboard the Ripley
- p. 49
- Inventory. Resolve.
- pp. 50-51
- vi. 1840-1851
- pp. 52-58
- Notes / Bibliography
- pp. 59-60
Additional Information
ISBN
9780819569929
Related ISBN(s)
9780819521910
MARC Record
OCLC
726747147
Pages
72
Launched on MUSE
2012-02-08
Language
English
Open Access
No