≡ Libro William Bartram Travels and Other Writings William Bartram Thomas P Slaughter 9781883011116 Books

William Bartram Travels and Other Writings William Bartram Thomas P Slaughter 9781883011116 Books

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William Bartram Travels and Other Writings William Bartram Thomas P Slaughter 9781883011116 Books

I probably would never have found this book if it hadn't been for an accidental combination of two occurrences that somehow came together: One, I have developed a great affinity for the Library of America selections; and Two, I had taken a trip to Philadelphia and intervening heavy rain prevented me from finding Bartram gardens, a place I knew I would enjoy visiting because of my dedicated love of all things foliaged, green or flowering. I had slight background on his father, John, and in the search among ancestral treasures of the Revolution, the trip to Philly evolved to reality.

I expected a good read, if slightly staid, stoic and filled with mostly observations about the fauna and flora of early eastern half of the United States, complete with the official latin headings on all. In that regard, it is to be admitted that there is quite a lot of that, due to the very nature of his quest into the wilderness.

It was integral, but a very small portion overall; instead, I also found far beyond what I expected - in a wonderful flowing, articulative narrative regarding travels through the East and South as it was when most of it was yet unspoiled land, the incredible numbers of birds, fish and animals as well as the beautiful descriptions of the forests and meadows decorated with flowers of all denominations; much like the Lewis and Clark Journals brought to us about the journey to the Yellowstone in search of the Northwest Passage, by John Bakeless - one of the books I used to keep handy on my nightstand to read again and again for the sheer wonder of what was once - right in my own corner of the world . I have always been captivated by people who could paint pictures with words; and this beautiful novel is one of that kind.

Two of my favorite spots in this journal involved more than his desire to document and classify: first, his session with a horde of alligators that he inadvertently camped among one evening before he discovered he was in the midst of their favored feeding and fighting haunts. The story he spills about THAT begins on page 114 and by the time the reader has finished with it, they are overcome with laughter and all thoughts of this being a book filled with nothing more than drawings and compositions of foliage have vanished. Without warning, and in the last act of desperation as an alligator is busily and noisily accessing the canoe, Bartram's only means of transportation out of the jungle, this mellow and gentle botanist grabs his gun and dispatches the alligator without remorse; proof positive that even the mildest of spirit will act out of character if the pinch is right.

The second, page 216, details one of the most ingenious plots devised yet by woman to get even with man through his weakness - as one gets over the initial rush of abject astonishment, the next question that comes to mind is "and these are supposed to be "primitive" thought processes?" It involves liquor and the Indian peoples he encounters, the many different facets of their lives, his non-judgmental observations, which is truly a pleasure; and that is all I will reveal about the subject as it's too good to ruin for another reader who may be contemplating it.

For those who have a fond regard for our heritage and for the outstanding individuals who thought enough of it at the time to write of it for us, in and around the fight for survival, the lack of many necessities that might have made it easier to focus on putting it all down on paper, it will be a reminder that the ones who blazed the trail for the rest of us were an unselfish breed apart. I look for such individuals every day and don't see many of them. That we had so many of them once, all in the right place and time, continues to be a wonderment to me. The question and answer section with his peers in the concluding chapters is remarkable.

Highly recommended not only as an excellent source of historical botanical information, but as a tale of high adventure accomplished most often solely alone, his only company being the land as it was, the wild and beautiful animals, birds and fish, the spectacular woodlands, the occasional white trader, and last but certainly not least, the natives that instinctly accepted and recognized him as a remarkable individual too nice to kill.

For those interested in this sort of historical narrative, a splendid companion novel about the Western half of the country - rather than the Eastern half - when it too was young, would be Francis Parkman's "The Oregon Trail", also a Library of America selection.


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William Bartram Travels and Other Writings William Bartram Thomas P Slaughter 9781883011116 Books Reviews

This is a gorgeously made book,well bound with fine paper. However, the font is so small that it makes for a difficult read. Still a treasure.
This is a great book, and an historically important book. This may sound strange, but the only thing I didn't like about the book was the cover. The texture irritates my hands - so I fold paper over the cover when I read it.
Came in excellent condition with a book casing. Quite happy with this purchase.
Superb read on early the late Colonial American South. Bartram was there in person and saw sights that are now sadly vanished.
Purhased these for my husband and loved all of these!
This is a great history lesson for any nature writer. The travels, and written observations are things that adventure is about. And the guy is a good writer.
As a first-person historic re-enactor, it is vital to know the thoughts and language of the personage portrayed. This was just what I needed to polish my visit as the William Barton the naturalist to North Augusta, South Carolina, recently. The plates were very useful since they were enlarged to be carried in his portfolio of representative plants, birds and reptiles that he encountered in his four-year journey. Fascinating reading although slow going if one is not familiar with the 18th century thought process.
I probably would never have found this book if it hadn't been for an accidental combination of two occurrences that somehow came together One, I have developed a great affinity for the Library of America selections; and Two, I had taken a trip to Philadelphia and intervening heavy rain prevented me from finding Bartram gardens, a place I knew I would enjoy visiting because of my dedicated love of all things foliaged, green or flowering. I had slight background on his father, John, and in the search among ancestral treasures of the Revolution, the trip to Philly evolved to reality.

I expected a good read, if slightly staid, stoic and filled with mostly observations about the fauna and flora of early eastern half of the United States, complete with the official latin headings on all. In that regard, it is to be admitted that there is quite a lot of that, due to the very nature of his quest into the wilderness.

It was integral, but a very small portion overall; instead, I also found far beyond what I expected - in a wonderful flowing, articulative narrative regarding travels through the East and South as it was when most of it was yet unspoiled land, the incredible numbers of birds, fish and animals as well as the beautiful descriptions of the forests and meadows decorated with flowers of all denominations; much like the Lewis and Clark Journals brought to us about the journey to the Yellowstone in search of the Northwest Passage, by John Bakeless - one of the books I used to keep handy on my nightstand to read again and again for the sheer wonder of what was once - right in my own corner of the world . I have always been captivated by people who could paint pictures with words; and this beautiful novel is one of that kind.

Two of my favorite spots in this journal involved more than his desire to document and classify first, his session with a horde of alligators that he inadvertently camped among one evening before he discovered he was in the midst of their favored feeding and fighting haunts. The story he spills about THAT begins on page 114 and by the time the reader has finished with it, they are overcome with laughter and all thoughts of this being a book filled with nothing more than drawings and compositions of foliage have vanished. Without warning, and in the last act of desperation as an alligator is busily and noisily accessing the canoe, Bartram's only means of transportation out of the jungle, this mellow and gentle botanist grabs his gun and dispatches the alligator without remorse; proof positive that even the mildest of spirit will act out of character if the pinch is right.

The second, page 216, details one of the most ingenious plots devised yet by woman to get even with man through his weakness - as one gets over the initial rush of abject astonishment, the next question that comes to mind is "and these are supposed to be "primitive" thought processes?" It involves liquor and the Indian peoples he encounters, the many different facets of their lives, his non-judgmental observations, which is truly a pleasure; and that is all I will reveal about the subject as it's too good to ruin for another reader who may be contemplating it.

For those who have a fond regard for our heritage and for the outstanding individuals who thought enough of it at the time to write of it for us, in and around the fight for survival, the lack of many necessities that might have made it easier to focus on putting it all down on paper, it will be a reminder that the ones who blazed the trail for the rest of us were an unselfish breed apart. I look for such individuals every day and don't see many of them. That we had so many of them once, all in the right place and time, continues to be a wonderment to me. The question and answer section with his peers in the concluding chapters is remarkable.

Highly recommended not only as an excellent source of historical botanical information, but as a tale of high adventure accomplished most often solely alone, his only company being the land as it was, the wild and beautiful animals, birds and fish, the spectacular woodlands, the occasional white trader, and last but certainly not least, the natives that instinctly accepted and recognized him as a remarkable individual too nice to kill.

For those interested in this sort of historical narrative, a splendid companion novel about the Western half of the country - rather than the Eastern half - when it too was young, would be Francis Parkman's "The Oregon Trail", also a Library of America selection.