A Lady's Life in the Rocky Mountains


Read by Laura Caldwell

(4.7 stars; 197 reviews)

Isabella Bird began travelling while in her early twenties to help alleviate illness that had plagued her since childhood. She was a single woman in her early forties when she made her trek through the Rocky Mountains. A Lady's Life in the Rocky Mountains details this fascinating account of her travels through a series of letters written to her sister, Henrietta. These letters are filled with beautiful, vivid descriptions of the scenery, the people she encountered, the way of life, and a mountain man named Jim Nugent, that was as rough as they come, but a complete gentleman with Ms. Bird. She has the distinction of being the first woman to become a member of the Royal Geographical Society in 1892. (Summary by Laura Caldwell) (7 hr 56 min)

Chapters

Letter I 26:29 Read by Laura Caldwell
Letter II 11:12 Read by Laura Caldwell
Letter III 24:33 Read by Laura Caldwell
Letter IV 14:54 Read by Laura Caldwell
Letter V, Part 1 18:33 Read by Laura Caldwell
Letter V, Part 2 19:35 Read by Laura Caldwell
Letter VI, Part 1 17:47 Read by Laura Caldwell
Letter VI, Part 2 20:12 Read by Laura Caldwell
Letter VII, Part 1 20:57 Read by Laura Caldwell
Letter VII, Part 2 15:14 Read by Laura Caldwell
Letter VIII, Part 1 23:04 Read by Laura Caldwell
Letter VIII, Part 2 16:41 Read by Laura Caldwell
Letter IX, Part 1 22:27 Read by Laura Caldwell
Letter IX, Part 2 18:34 Read by Laura Caldwell
Letter X, Part 1 22:55 Read by Laura Caldwell
Letter X, Part 2 20:35 Read by Laura Caldwell
Letter XI 24:41 Read by Laura Caldwell
Letter XII 25:09 Read by Laura Caldwell
Letter XIII 23:17 Read by Laura Caldwell
Letter XIV 21:25 Read by Laura Caldwell
Letter XV 27:35 Read by Laura Caldwell
Letter XVI 21:55 Read by Laura Caldwell
Letter XVII 18:46 Read by Laura Caldwell

Reviews

Marvelous reading!


(5 stars)

This is such an enjoyable listen from beginning to end. How utterly interesting to obtain a somewhat different perspective on the settling of a wilderness area with it's harshness and cruelty. Brilliantly read with perfect clarity. I shall now need to see what other books Ms. Caldwell has contributed! I recommend this to anyone and everyone. Both the material and the narrator receive my kudos.


(5 stars)

My very best favorite! Exceptional reading of an exceptional woman. Loved every second... It brought my real life memories of hiking the trails of RMNP roaring back. Longs Peak is emblazoned on my heart.

A Lady's Life in the Rocky Mountains


(4.5 stars)

Wonderful. Laura has a wonderful voice and reads superbly

a real joy


(5 stars)

a beautiful reading of a facinating story.

Unforgetable


(5 stars)

How wrong I was! I had envisioned this book to be a combination of a suburban lady’s vacation trip to the Grand Canyon with her Instamatic camera and a few episodes of Little House on the Prairie – all rather tame. But instead, it was like stepping on a land mine. From beginning to end, I was out of my comfort zone, on the edge of my seat, and full of apprehension at the adventures of this most remarkable lady, Isabella Lucie Bird. Not only was she an adventurer, but she possesses a consummate ability to use the English language to vividly describe her exploits. Of the many movies and books I have encountered in my lifetime, almost all have come and gone; but this tale will remain vividly with me forever. The book is narrated by Laura Caldwell. You will not fine a more superb and talented reader than she.

I'm ONLY give stars to the reader...


(5 stars)

Yes. Only to the reader. I must admit my mind was running far away, so I wasn't listening attentively. It could easily be that I listened only half the book without my undivided attention. (Maybe even less.) Let this not taken as an insinuation of poor writing kills of Miss Bird (since this is the second book I've read/listen and I've enjoyed her style quite a lot) nor poor pacing from Miss Caldwell. The parts where I was most present were exquisite. Miss Bird was of a most interesting character. Also, though Bird was English, somehow the (slightly) Southern (?) accent of the reader perfectly set the imagery in front.

My poster girl


(5 stars)

Isabella Bird is my poster girl for a brave, compassionate, capable, adventurous woman that bucks convention. She is an inspiration even in this day and age. I particularly liked this book, her descriptions are wonderful and her love and connection to nature and the landscape is palpable. Laura Caldwell does a great job reading this, I feel she really channels Isabella and enjoy her pacing and lilting accent. A real pleasure to listen to!


(5 stars)

The reader is excellent — her soft and slightly grainy voice matches the languid and enchanting writing. The author is a skilled observer who offers lovely, often exquisite descriptions of her journey from the abundant farm lands of California through the dry plains of Wyoming to the soaring Rockies. She mixes naturalistic observations with insightful observations into the early colonizers of the West.