Wicked River: The Mississippi When It Last Ran Wild

Written by Lee Sandlin

Narrated by Jeff McCarthy

Acclaimed journalist and author Lee Sandlin delivers a riveting glimpse of a dangerous and colorful place in America's historical landscape-the Mississippi River of the 19th century. Long before it was dredged into a shipping channel or romanticized into myth, the untamed Mississippi-the lifeblood of communities that rose and fell along its banks-spawned a motley array of pirates and dignitaries, visionaries and thieves.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Nov 26, 2010
• ISBN: 9781449839789

Reviews for Wicked River

[kaitanya64 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Popular history done well. This reads like a collection of short narratives of life on and near the Mississippi River from the first European/American settlements to just after the Civil War when railroads reduced the importance of the river as a form of transportation and began to "tame" the river's natural cycles, making it safer but also less interesting. Lots of action and character sketches, a little light on historical background, this is definitely history as entertainment. But, Sandlin is careful to note sources and he also raises questions about the reliability of historical evidence that will leave the reader pondering.

[sullywriter_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A colorful, fascinating mix of history, culture, folklore, and geography.

[diana1952 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Fascinating history of the river. Enjoyed it from cover to cover.

[katong_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Lively! Brings out personalities and character of the river people. Loved Sandlin's use of the painted panorama as a central motif, and his focus on the American dialect of the day.

[epersonae_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A semi-chronological narrative of life along the Mississippi River, primarily before the Civil War, when the river valley was still part of the frontier. It was a dangerous place, both from nature (storms, earthquakes, the river itself) and from other humans (lots of drunkenness and piracy). Includes the origin of the term "lynching", which didn't always mean hanging. Found myself unreasonably amused by the fact that the voyageurs (boatmen, somewhat expendable) were known for their red shirts. Tidbits that I want to use for future D&D games: the Crow's Nest, an island of pirates in the middle of the river, which was destroyed by the New Madrid quakes; Natchez-Under-the-Hill, the sketchy/wild town down by the river, partially built into the bluffs, with the "respectable" town up above. Ends with Mark Twain's last visit to the river, when few boats traveled it, the traffic all having gone to rail, and when the course of the river itself was being tamed; in the epilogue, he revisits the "panorama" paintings that were all the rage in the early 19th century, and how the last one disappeared. (Fittingly, part of it may still be hidden under a wall somewhere in South Dakota.) Very engaging; probably wouldn't have read it if it hadn't been one of the few non-fiction books available in Overdrive, but glad I did anyway.

[tloeffler_3 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Stories abound about the Mississippi River, and I've read several. This is by far one of my favorites. Lee Sandlin gives us a history of the River from the early 1800's up to the siege of Vicksburg in 1863. He focuses on some of the bigger events happening around the river, as well as focusing on the river itself before the attempts to "tame" it by the Army Corps of Engineers. It's amazing to realize how independently it flowed before then.

[mhaley_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Born and raised less than 3 miles from the Mighty Mississippi, this title offered me insights into the river and the culture which surrounded it, and still does. Wicked River encompasses the storied history of the river and the influence it had on the making of the country. From riverboat captains, slave-traders, merchants, card sharks, pirates, earthquakes, floods, and prostitutes, the river brought forth a whole new culture and exciting and informative stories. The Civil War battles of New Orleans, and Vicksburg were set on its banks, and finalized victory for the Union. Sandlin presents this work with clarity and alacrity. I stormed through the audiobook non-stop while ONTHEROAD through the wilds of South Eastern New Mexico upon my last business trip. I give this audiobook 3.5 out of 5 steamboats. I would recommend this title for those folks who love history and Americana. Mississippi.