John James Audubon: The Making of an AmericanBy: Richard Rhodes
Category: HISTORY
Guide Created By: Harold and Marni
Discussion Leader(s): Harold and Marni
Click here to visit the discussion
Guide DescriptionThis book is a biography of John J. Audubon, his honing of a career as an ornithologist and artist that culminated in the publication of The Birds of America and his transformation into an American.
Plot SynopsisIn this book Richard Rhodes, author of a significant list of previous non-fiction books including a 1988 Pulitzer Prize winner, gives us a new biography of John James Audubon, the first new treatment of this life in 40 years. The story begins with Audubon's arrival in America in 1803, a refugee of questionable legitimacy escaping conscription into Napoleon's army. Already interested in observing birds, he settles on a Pennsylvania plantation where he meets and finally marries Lucy Bakewell, the well-bred English girl next door. The couple then moves west to Kentucky where Audubon, after a mediocre beginning as a merchant, succeeds in his honing of new skills as an ornithologist and artist, a career culminating finally in the international publication of his life's work, The Birds of America, and his personal transformation into an American.
Questions
Chapters 1 through 5
- This section and the book are entitled The Making of an American. What might have been regarded as characteristic of Americans in the early 19th century? Today?
- How did world events in the Caribbean, in Europe, and in America at the turn of the 18th century contribute to make John James Audubon an American?
- What is an immigrant? Has the treatment of immigrants in America changed over time?
- What was Audubon’s vision about birds when he arrived in America? How might events of JJ’s childhood and youth have led him to love the study of birds?
- What art training had Audubon received? Describe his method of drawing birds.
- Describe the relationship between Audubon & Lucy. Did anything impede their relationship?
- What dangerous events indicative of the times occurred on Audubon’s journey back to America after his visit home?
- How would you characterize John James Audubon? What were some of his traits? (personality, appearance, interests, skills, etc.)
- Lucy’s father said of Audubon upon his return to America, “He is a very agreeable young man, but volatile as almost all Frenchmen are.” What was your reaction to this statement? What else might have been regarded as characteristic of Frenchmen at that time? Today?
- How does Audubon get along with Native Americans he meets on his travels? Is his attitude towards Indians typical of most white Americans in the early 1800’s?
Chapters 6 through 10
- What countries owned the Louisiana Territory between 1775 and 1810? How might the changing ownership have affected people living there and in bordering areas?
- What kinds of businesses did Audubon and his partners conduct in St. Genevieve and Henderson? Is Audubon a skillful and savvy businessman? What were some business difficulties that merchants commonly had to deal with in the early 19th century?
- What created the revival of religious conversions during the “Great Awakening” in 1811-1812? Do you imagine a similar religious revival could occur in 2005-2006?
- Why did the War of 1812 take place? What was the impact of the war on America and on Audubon and his partner, Tom Bakewell, & other acquaintances?
- Describe the home living of Audubon and his family in Henderson.
- Why were Tom Bakewell and Nicholas Berthoud able to make it successfully through the 1819 depression when Audubon went bankrupt?
- After his bankruptcy, how did Audubon support his family? How was he able to escape the feelings of shame and humiliation from his public business failure and imprisonment
- Did Lucy Audubon’s character traits make her a good frontier wife and mother? What was different about her compared to Sarah Pears and Elizabeth Bakewell?
- What drawing techniques did the now more mature Audubon use?
- What is your impression of Audubon’s writings that are the sources of Rhodes’ quotes?
- What birds and animals, now extinct, have you noticed in this biography? Were you surprised that a bird lover like Aubudon killed so many birds – not only for food or to draw, but for their feathers to sell for European fashions?
Chapters 11 through 15
- How do Audubon and Lucy support themselves in this section? What difficulties do they encounter to support their family? Why did Audubon have so much trouble collecting money owed to him? Why do you think Nicholas Berthoud does not help Audubon?
- What do you think Lucy’s reaction was when Audubon wrote to her about the “fair incognito”?
- Circumstances led to Audubon and Lucy living apart for a significant amount of time. What were the causes of these separations? Did you notice any particular marital disagreements or arguments causing or resulting from their separations?
- How have disease and other health problems affected the Audubon family?
- Audubon has now nearly reached his most mature artistic form. What improvements and techniques is he using to create this more mature style?
- When did Audubon make the decision to create The Birds of America? What progress has he made on this work?
- Why did Audubon go to Philadelphia and what happened there?
Interlude plus Chapters 16 through 20
- Describe Audubon’s marketing and sales campaign for The Birds of America. How did he use his physical appearance as a marketing technique? How did Edinburgh win out over Paris as the place of publication? Why did Audubon make the decision to produce life-sized bird pictures when it made production more expensive? What was the anticipated market for this large work of art?
- Describe the production and distribution methods used for The Birds of America, including the plates, numbers, volumes, binding, pricing, time frame, profit, etc. How long did Audubon expect it would take to complete the entire project?
- What were the major differences between Lizar’s method of engraving Audubon’s plates and the Havells’ method?
- What honors were bestowed upon Audubon in Europe for his bird research, writings, speeches, and paintings? Who were some of the famous or important people who were impressed with Audubon’s work and who helped pave his way to fame?
- Why were Europeans so much more appreciative of Audubon’s art than were Americans?
- How did Lucy help Audubon in his efforts to publish his book? Why didn’t she join him in England? Whose decision was it that she didn’t go? Do you think Audubon and Lucy sent mixed messages to each other? Why does Audubon vacillate so in asking Lucy to join him?
- Why did Audubon keep his hair long when the style of the times was short?
Chapters 21 through 25
- What progress did Audubon make in gaining new subscribers in France and why? What important contacts did Audubon make in France? Why did he leave France so soon?
- What were the reasons Audubon returned to America after being away for so long? How did the Audubons come to be reconciled finally?
- Audubon returned to England with Lucy. She had had her reasons for remaining in America. Why did she decide to leave her work behind and go to Europe with her husband?
- What publishing problems did Audubon confront upon his return to Britain? How did Lucy help her husband with his work?
- How did Audubon plan to create bird biographies that corresponded with the bird plates in The Birds of America?
- What honors were bestowed upon Audubon in Europe in this period?
- Why did Lucy and Audubon return together to America after handling business problems and hunting for subscribers in England and in France? Was there a business risk when Audubon left Europe?
- Was there any change in America’s consideration of Audubon’s work at this point? What honors were bestowed upon Audubon in America? How successful was Audubon at getting subscribers in America? What valuable contacts and acquaintances did he make in America at this stage? What assistance did he get from the U.S. Treasury Department?
- Why was Audubon still plagued by creditors in America since he had declared bankruptcy and had lost all of his possessions years earlier?
- What illnesses and disease plagued the Audubons and relatives in this section of the book? How was aging affecting Lucy and Audubon?
- Audubon became very melancholy on the expedition to Labrador. Why?
Chapters 26 through 28 plus Envoy and Conclusion
- Now that the family is together, we see more about Victor and John Woodhouse. How do they help their father with his books? Who do they marry?
- The male Audubons travel to America in 1836 to carry on their projects, leaving Lucy behind. Why didn’t she go with them?
- What significant historical events, occurring in America between 1836 and 1850, does Rhodes mention?
- Describe Audubon’s and Ed Harris’ 1838 expedition to find American quadrupeds.
- When publication of The Birds of America is finished, the Audubon family returns to America to live permanently. Where do they live? Can Audubon support his family now? How does America treat him now? What projects does Audubon plan for the future?
- Describe Audubon’s plans for publication of his book on American quadrupeds. What new technology will he use to create this book?
- Describe the Octavo edition of The Birds of America. How was it different from the original edition?
- What terrible health tragedies befall the Audubon family?
- Were Audubon and Lucy happy together in their golden years?
- What were the purpose and the outcome of John Woodhouse’s expedition to California 1849-1850?
- How did Audubon die? How did his sons die?
- Describe how Lucy spent her last years.
|
Interesting InformationRelevant Links found on the Internet
Click here for our Internet Resources for Books
Our readers' guides, created by SeniorNet volunteers, are designed to inform and enhance your reading of specific books that we have discussed on the SeniorNet Books web site.
Permission is granted to individuals and groups for the non-commercial use of
the SeniorNet readers' guides if you attribute them to 'SeniorNet Book Clubs
(www.seniornet.org/bookclubs).' |
