O America: Discovery in a New Land

By: William Least Heat-Moon

Narrated by: Clive Johnson

In 1848 an English physician, Nathaniel Trennant, accepts an offer to serve as doctor on a ship carrying immigrants to America. When arriving in Baltimore, Trennant stumbles onto its slave market and witnesses the horrors of human bondage. One night in a boardinghouse he discovers under his bed a runaway slave. Disturbed and angered by the selling of human lives, he offers to help the young man escape, a criminal action that will put the fugitive slave and physician into flight from both the law and opportunistic slave hunters.

Traveling by foot, horse, stage, canal boat, and steamer, Nathaniel and Nicodemus explore the backcountry and forge a deep friendship as they encounter a host of memorable characters who reveal the nature of the American experiment, one still in its early stages but already under the stress of social injustices and economic inequities.

The book is published by University of Missouri Press. The audiobook is published by University Press Audiobooks.

©2020 William Least Heat-Moon (P)2020 Redwood Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"A remarkable and skillfully crafted historical novel...a thoroughly entertaining and compellingly thought-provoking read throughout." (Midwest Book Review)

“A joyous, rollicking mash-up of Moby-Dick, Huckleberry Finn, and On the Road.... This is truly a great American novel and a soulful gift to humanity and the earth we inhabit.” (Independent Publisher)

“For those familiar with Heat-Moon's writing, this book breaks new ground. It's a buddy movie waiting to be made.” (Kansas City Star)

Heat-moon

Always enjoy him Will look for another of his read books and read books and read books

master story teller!

Had a hard time getting used to the narrator's inflection. As the story though, it matched Mr. Heat Moon's very descriptive prose! Nothing about the author is rushed - ever! Had read Blue Highways a while ago and loved his descriptive meanderings so I knew what to expect in this book. He did not disappoint!

Best book ever!

Dr. Nathan exceptional offer to sail to America as the main doctor ownership of the immigrants. His journey starts off a very strange one full of horrors and things most gentle people do not encounter. Finally making his way to New York he rent a horse with plants to explore the country. After making his way to a boarding house he has a surprise of his life when he sees a slave hiding who he find out his name is Nicadeemas who Will eventually call Deems. They are being hunted my bounty man he is wanted for stealing property and Nicodemus is water because he is the property. I love in the book call Dr. Nathan called The bounty Hunter and bipedal abscess I thought that was so funny I know that is one minor thing in the book but even as I put it down I am laughing. There is so much to the story as a journey goes on they grow closer and I won’t spoil it with any of the ending but I love the whole book especially the ending I thought the narrator did such an awesome job he had the perfect voice for Dr. Nathan. This was a perfect book and although it was 11 hours long, But I wish they would have another book with one happens after. I highly recommend this book to those who love history and historical fiction is a perfect example of great research a great story and a great narrator.

horrible narrator good grief

A fantastic book like this should have a fantastic narrator!! It seems all he does is read..disregarding punctuation and story line..good grief