Old Man River

The Mississippi River in North American History

De: Paul Schneider

Narrado por: Alan Sklar

In Old Man River, Paul Schneider tells the story of the river at the center of America's rich history - the Mississippi. Some fifteen thousand years ago, the majestic river provided Paleolithic humans with the routes by which early man began to explore the continent's interior. Since then, the river has been the site of historical significance, from the arrival of Spanish and French explorers in the 16th century to the Civil War. George Washington fought his first battle near the river, and Ulysses S. Grant and William T. Sherman both came to President Lincoln's attention after their spectacular victories on the lower Mississippi.

In the 19th century, home-grown folk heroes such as Daniel Boone and the half-alligator, half-horse, Mike Fink, were creatures of the river. Mark Twain and Herman Melville led their characters down its stream in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Confidence-Man. A conduit of real-life American prowess, the Mississippi is also a river of stories and myth.

Schneider traces the history of the Mississippi from its origins in the deep geologic past to the present. Though the busiest waterway on the planet today, the Mississippi remains a paradox-a devastated product of American ingenuity, and a magnificent natural wonder.

©2013 Paul Schneider (P)2013 Tantor

Reseñas de la Crítica

"With such an expert hand on the tiller, Old Man River is an astonishing journey." ( Publishers Weekly Starred Review

Amazing, inspiring and informative

This was a great book to hear. Being a river boat captain myself it is very inspirational to understand where my career lineage so to speak came about

History, eloquence, and wit...

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This is a beautifully written and narrated history of the American continent told through the history of the Mississippi river basin. I am frequently overcome by Mr. Schneider's visual imagery, especially as narrated by Alan Sklar. I wanted to be in my own kayak, navigating the "Old Man River", viewing the history, both ancient and modern, as related and elaborated upon, by him. I could see the murky swirls in the river's eddys. I could feel the river mud seeping between my barefoot toes as I dragged them, Huck Finn style, along the banks. The fireflies of Natchez and the sweet smell of decaying plant life in the marshes.
Mr. Schneider's dry wit decorates this eloquent narrative throughout, frequently bringing half-smiles to my lips.

Any additional comments?

A truly enjoyable listen. I would recommend this for your next road trip, or lazy day.

Disappointing

Have you come for keelboats and steamboat races? They are here, but its just a moment in a long book. Its 15 chapter before LaSalle - 15 chapters of arrowheads and mounds. Another 10 chapters before the river is in America. Good stuff here on slavery on the river, and Lincoln's legal battles for a railroad bridge, but far too little.