Untamed

The Wildest Woman in America and the Fight for Cumberland Island

By: Will Harlan

Narrated by: Kevin Stillwell

Length: 12 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

Carol Ruckdeschel is the wildest woman in America. She eats road kill, wrestles alligators, rides horses bareback, and lives in a ramshackle cabin that she built herself in an island wilderness. She’s had three husbands and many lovers, one of whom she shot and killed in self-defense. A combination of Henry David Thoreau and Jane Goodall, Carol is a self-taught scientist who has become a tireless defender of sea turtles on Cumberland Island, a national park off the coast of Georgia.

Cumberland is the country's largest and most biologically diverse barrier island - over 40 square miles of pristine wilderness celebrated for its windswept dunes and feral horses. Steel magnate Thomas Carnegie owned much of Cumberland, and his widow Lucy made it a Gilded Age playground. But in recent years, Carnegie heirs and the National Park Service have clashed with Carol over the island’s future. What happens when a dirt-poor naturalist with only a high school diploma tries to stop one of the wealthiest families in America? Untamed is the story of an American original standing her ground and fighting for what she believes in, no matter the cost.

©2014 Will Harlan. Recorded by arrangement with Grove/Atlantic, Inc. (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

I learned so much!!!

It was such a great story! I wish it was required in all schools for students to read this. Beautifully narrated. I was never bored.

Brilliant

What an incredible story. I could not put this audio book down. Truly a fascinating human.

Delightful.

Wonderful and interesting. Well written and narrated. Had a hard time putting it down. Highly recommended.

Interesting Scientist We Should All Know About

How sad I had never heard of Carol R until this last year. What an amazing life she has lived! I learned so many interesting things about her and her work, turtles, the environment, and the coast of Georgia.

We need more nature lovers like Carol

Carol’s life was a fascinating read. I’ve been backpacking to Cumberland since the early 1990’s. I’m glad people like Carol have helped to preserve such a beautiful place for future generations. I read the hardback book several years ago. Decided to listen to it again before my next backpacking trip out there.

Fascinating story about a remarkable woman's passion

This story recounts the efforts of a remarkable woman and her impact on sea turtles, Cumberland Island Wilderness and conservation efforts. The story weaves in some good history of the Carnegie family, the Civil War, the National Park Service and Conservation.

good listen

very good book, I just would prefer narrators not go so heavy with Southern drawls. takes me out if the scene.

Brilliant!

Thank you Will Harlan. I loved every detail, every moment. I am blessed to know the facts, history and
Details of Cumberland Island.

Fabulous! What an incredible writer!

You don’t have to go to Cumberland to appreciate this story, but you should...perhaps you’ll get a glimpse of Carol in her natural habitat.
What a fantastic book of depth, excellent writing, knowledge of subject, interesting and varying context and lessons about life, ecology and our relationship to it!
Will is obviously a gifted writer and the audible voice selected was perfect! My biggest recommend of 2017!

Untamed

I just love this book and the realness she lived and the fact that truth.