Creation

June M. Blurton is a retired speech/language pathologist.

John James Audubon was determined to finish his great book of paintings
of North American birds, no matter what the cost to his family. In hopes
of finding new subjects, he set sail from Maine in 1833 bound for the
nesting grounds to the north. He was accompanied by several “young
gentlemen,” including his second son. He met up with Henry Bayfield, a
captain in the Royal Navy, who was surveying the perilous coast of the
Gulf of St. Lawrence, and who was as dedicated to improving the safety
of ships as Audubon was to understanding birds.

This much is documented historically. The letters Audubon wrote on this
voyage to his wife and his “sweetheart” describing his feelings,
thoughts, and observations have vanished. In this novel, Govier has
imagined what those letters contained. Audubon watches the carelessness
with which nature is treated by the sailors, fishers, and especially the
men who collect eggs from the bird nests. He becomes convinced that
whole strains of animals, fish, and birds will disappear if these
practices continues. He makes this point strongly in his conversations
with Bayfield, but continues to slaughter birds himself.

In spite of a wealth of background information, the main characters do
not come alive and are not sympathetic. However, the habits and habitat
of the different birds, the coastline of the Gulf, and the meticulous
work of charting the hidden rocks and reefs through storms and fog are
described in fascinating detail.