John James Audubon by John Burroughs
The biography focuses on the life and work of a prominent American ornithologist who was born in Haiti to French parents. He spent his early years in France before moving to America where he became fascinated with birds, leading him to create detailed illustrations of various species. His work had a significant impact on the field of ornithology and contributed to the development of modern bird classification systems.
By John Burroughs · First published 1863 · Genre: Biography, Nature Writing, History · 5 chapters · 25,615 words
First lines
There is a hopeless confusion as to certain important dates in Audubon's life. He was often careless and unreliable in his statements of matters of fact, which weakness during his lifetime often led to his being accused of falsehood. Thus he speaks of the "memorable battle of Valley Forge" and of two brothers of his, both officers in the French army, as having perished in the French Revolution, when he doubtless meant uncles. He had previously stated that his only two brothers died in infancy. He confessed that he had no head for mathematics, and he seems always to have been at sea in regard to his own age. In his letters and journals there are several references to his age, but they rarely agree. The date of his birth usually given, May 4, 1780, is probably three or four years too early, as he speaks of himself as being nearly seventeen when his mother had him confirmed in the Catholic Church, and this was about the time that his father, then an officer in the French navy, was sent to England to effect a change of prisoners, which time is given as 1801.
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John James Audubon is listed on Textopian as a novel by John Burroughs, dated 1863 CE.
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- Work type: Novel
- Author: John Burroughs
- Date: 1863 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Biography, Nature Writing, History, Art, Environmental Literature
- Length: 25,615 words
- Structure: 5 chapters, 257 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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Genres
- Biography — The book focuses on the life and contributions of a significant historical figure.
- Nature Writing — It explores themes related to wildlife and the natural world, reflecting the subject's passion for ornithology.
- History — It provides context about the time period and cultural influences surrounding the subject's life.
- Art — The subject's work in illustration and painting is a central theme, highlighting artistic achievements.
Tags
Biography · Nature Writing · American Literature · Wildlife · Ornithology · Conservation · History · Science · Art · Illustration · Exploration · Travelogue