I have just finished reading Killers in Africa by Alexander Lake. Some of the stuff in the book is a bit out of the mainstream to say the least. Like him espousing the use of the .303 Enfield as the greatest rifle around, shooting elephants in the mouth to kill them, etc. Curious if anyone has any background on the fellow. Is he for real or a nut? Lake was an American that went to Africa with his parents around the turn of the century and became a professional hunter in the 1920's to 1940's. His books are enjoyable but some of his comments strike me as odd.

I've always heard that his stuff was mainly his own fantasies.

Interestingly, the promo for that book professes much the opposite:

"Alexander Lake was a big game hunter, but a hunter with a difference. At a time -- the late 1940s and early 1950s -- when hunters were selling macho yarns filled to overflowing with false bravado, Lake began debunking all the myths that had been making the rounds. Indeed, when Killers in Africa was first published, the advertising tagline was "The truth about animals lying in wait and hunters lying in print!" This book, drawn from a number of Lake's magazine articles written while in Africa, covers the animals he hunted, species by species, all told with a "round the campfire" feel."

I've read only a smattering of magazine articles / excerpts of Lake's writings, finding them enjoyable.
Cycled them through the Nickudu Files a number of times.

My Favourite BS artist after "Not-So-Bright Matonga" (Zimbabwe's Minister of propoganda)

quote:

"Not-So-Bright Matonga"

Not to chnage the subject but man, not-so-Bright is one hateful arsehole!

Lakes book reads like a comic book with Africa as the setting.

When I got to the part about only using soft point .303 ammo on elephants and then only shooting them in the roof of their open mouths I put the book down and returned it to the friend who loaned it to me.

Mr. Lakes book is absolutely rubbish.

Sounds like, other than the entertainment value that his books might offer, do not be looking at the books for real information or historical context. Like I said, some of the stuff was just baffling. I had forgotten about his comment on using soft nose bullets on elephants. That would certainly make him the lone voice in the wilderness on that issue.

Maybe the works were just intended to be satirical . . .

WONDER IF IT WAS A ROUND NOSED SOFT OR POINTED SOFT !

"Entertainment" is exactly the value of his books but then isn't that the mainstay of the publishing business? Taken for what they are - not factual accounts - they are entertaining. I've read just as fantastical accounts in mainstream publications, the Washington Post for one!

If I remember correctly Lake worked in Hollywood as well. Particularly as a technical advisor on the early Tarzan movies. This may explain his writing style as typical of that place!

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Originally posted by ivan carter:
WONDER IF IT WAS A ROUND NOSED SOFT OR POINTED SOFT !

I wonder what the twist rate was.....

If Lake was still alive today he would probably give Mark Sullivan a good run for his money.

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Originally posted by Saeed:
If Lake was still alive today he would probably give Mark Sullivan a good run for his money.

I'm pretty sure Mr. Lake is still alive and posting here under a different name. I recognize his writing style.

quote:

Originally posted by ivan carter:
WONDER IF IT WAS A ROUND NOSED SOFT OR POINTED SOFT !

Ivan1
He recounts a case of some one being squashed by an elephant that the hunter failed to stop with a solid. He says the "fool" should have shot the elephant in the roof of a mouth with a soft point from a 303 because a solid in the same place will get you killed. He also says that all the professionals do this.

465H&H

This guy sounds like Shootaway.

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Originally posted by ozhunter:
This guy sounds like Shootaway.

I wonder if Lake wore a snowmobile helmet while hunting elephant?

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Originally posted by ForrestB:

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
If Lake was still alive today he would probably give Mark Sullivan a good run for his money.

I'm pretty sure Mr. Lake is still alive and posting here under a different name. I recognize his writing style.

I think he lives in Idaho now.

Sweet Mary Jane.....

Alexander Lake retired to Humboldt County California where his personal Physician was Dr. Jim Eley who was also my father's (Dr. Jasper Davis) medical partner for many years. I never met Mr. Lake but I did read Dr. Eley's autographed copies of his books. I do remember the signature in one of the books, more or less as follows:

"To Dr Jim Eley who saw some of chapter 4 during an operation on (Signature) Alexander Lake."

This would have been signed sometime in the 1950's I expect as I read the books in the 1957-1960 range. Thrilling stuff for an uninformed kid then. Now, with two bow hunting trips to South Africa under my belt plus considerable other reading, some of the stories seem a bit stretched.