John McEwen

In defence of John James Audubon 

The great artist and ornithologist who produced the magnificent Birds of America is now being shunned as a bird-slaughtering white supremacist

‘Black-backed Gull’, from The Birds of America, painted by Audubon in 1833. [Alamy] 
issue 12 November 2022

The text of this well illustrated book is mostly John James Audubon’s, from journals unpublished in his lifetime.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.

GIF Image

Disagree with half of it, enjoy reading all of it

TRY 3 MONTHS FOR $5
Our magazine articles are for subscribers only. Start your 3-month trial today for just $5 and subscribe to more than one view

Comments

Join the debate for just £1 a month

Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for £3.

Already a subscriber? Log in