THE LIFE OF AUDUBON

The enthusiasm of one naturalist for another is apparent in most of the text of this life of the famous artist and naturalist, John James Audubon, as told by Dr. Fisher, one-time Curator of Astronomy at New York's planetarium- and lecturer on ornithology. Audubon was his hero, and in sharing his enthusiasm with younger readers, Fisher gives them the man himself, his zest for life, his boundless enthusiasm for his chosen field, his marriage and the wife who was one with him, despite financial set-backs, disillusionment, failure- and belatedly, success. The last part of the text would suggest to the reader that Dr. Fisher left his manuscript unfinished.... A beautiful book, with 20 pages in full color reproductions of famous Audubon prints, and line drawings in black and white throughout. It is unfortunate that some of the doublespreads break at the backbone and hurt the otherwise artistic conception and fulfilment.