Maria Z’s Reviews > Under a Wild Sky: John James Audubon and the Making of The Birds of America > Status Update

John James Audubon (1785-1851) set out to paint every known (to him) North American bird in the early-nineteenth century. He eventually stopped at 435 paintings. Every page in each set of books was hand colored. They catalog and display American birds, some of which are now extinct. John Audubon was not just a naturalist, but also a brilliant artist.

This book would have been a masterpiece IF it was edited down by about 30%! A shame that such a brilliant, fascinating, original, shocking life is presented to the reader in sometimes plodding, even tedious narrative. It's OK dear author, not to tell us, your readers, EVERY DETAIL of the arduous paths of the journey to Audubon's astonishing accomplishments.