In defence of John James Audubon 

The text of this well illustrated book is mostly John James Audubon’s, from journals unpublished in his lifetime. Part I describes his 1826 voyage from America to England to set in motion the great task – which would take 11 years – of fundraising for the printing of his mighty double elephant folio book in four volumes, The Birds of America. Part III is devoted to his 1833 seabird searching expedition to Labrador. The well chosen excerpts are introduced and meticulously annotated. 

Audubon’s innate love of birds grew into a grand ambition to observe, record and publish life-size images – never previously attempted anywhere – of all the birds of North America. He did this before photography proved his dramatic rendering of movement correct. Although an expert taxonomist, his models were not stuffed, but specimens shot and wired in lifelike attitudes before their colours drained. The drawings were rough, intended to be perfected as engravings, principally by Robert Harvell in London.