Untamed Audiobook By Will Harlan cover art

Untamed

The Wildest Woman in America and the Fight for Cumberland Island

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Untamed

By: Will Harlan
Narrated by: Kevin Stillwell
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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. Ecology Endangered Species Environmentalists & Naturalists Nature & Ecology Outdoors & Nature Professionals & Academics Science Women Heartfelt Inspiring Thought-Provoking

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Powerful Story • Fascinating Biography • Perfect Voice • Remarkable Biologist • Excellent Writing • Educational Content
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What an incredible story. I could not put this audio book down. Truly a fascinating human.

Brilliant

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

Delightful.

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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.

Interesting Scientist We Should All Know About

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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.

We need more nature lovers like Carol

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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.

Fascinating story about a remarkable woman's passion

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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.

I learned so much!!!

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I really enjoyed the vivid descriptions of Cumberland Island and of Carroll's necropsies as well as nature specifically and in general. It is As much a scientific article as a story of endurance.

Carroll's gumption

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I loved everything about it. This book is fantastically written, full of history and science. It has changed my life and has further increased my awareness of how humans are damaging the earth. But there is still a chance. Thank you Carol and thank you Will.

Absolutely Incredible

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loved it! living so close and having met her on my first trip to Cumberland I wanted to know Carol. it kept me listening and learned some things too.

strong woman!

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A fascinating account of an impressive woman. The prose is captivating in detail. Well worth reading.

Factual Account

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