With many apologies, I'm sure this has been covered many times, but I saw the movie again last night for the first time in a long time and I was wondering if any of you knew any reference material on the actual story that the movie is based on.
I'm guessing the michael douglas character was fiction but may have been based on someone else. I'd also like to know what rifles were actually used etc. Any info would be appreciated.

Check out The Man-Eaters of Tsavo. It was originally written by Colonel Peterson who was the man brought in to kill the lions. There is a newer version in the Capstick Series, but it is essentially the same book.

Yes, Douglas' character was inserted into the movie even though he never existed.

J.H. Patterson wrote a book about it called "the maneaters of Tsavo".
Then Peter Capstick did one of his book things on it using Pattersons book.
Go to amazon and search under the author or the book name and I'm sure you can find it.

I have read it and quite frankly Patterson should have ben "sorted out" by the cats long before he got them.
Darwin was on vacation when Patterson was at Tsavo.

The Douglas character was a fictional abomination, and ruined what might otherwise have been an excellent film.

The real Col. J.H. Patterson shot the maneaters with a .303 caliber magazine rifle (probably a Lee-Metford), and in the case of the first, applied several finishing shots with a single shot, .577/.450 Martini-Henry.

He was a bit of a blunderer, but undoubtedly a brave man.

Pattterson was not "brought in to kill the lions." He was in charge of building the railroad.

Ryan, if you have the time and means... The two maneaters are in the Field museum in Chicago, Ill.

Mike

In addition to Patterson's book you might pick up 'The Ghosts of Tsavo' by Philip Caputo, National Geographic Adventure Press published 2002. It's a pretty well documented study of the Lions of Tsavo and has some good pics if you are looking for a non-fiction study.I think you will enjoy it I sure did.

Thank you to all for the information. I appreciate it.

Most of Patterson's book is on-line. Try this link:

http://www.rtpnet.org/robroy/tsavo/tsavo+pics.html

Some of his account of the bridge building is just as interesting as the lion hunting.