Ruark was probably the big influence for me.
Also, Wilbur Smith.

Capstick's style of writing never appealed to me......it seemed almost fraudulent in a way.

quote:

Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:
Capstick was one of them, along with Ruark, Roosevelt, Hunter, Hemingway, etc. Thank you PHC: Look what you did for Saeed and for AR!

DITTO!!! Only one I'd add is Karamojo Bell....hence my screen name!

Capstick was my introduction to African hunting literature and stimulated my interest in making an African safari "some day". I later progressed to books by Ruark, Roosevelt, Taylor, etc. but without those first Capstick books, I would never have even considered Africa.

So, despite his faults, I credit PHC with starting my interest in African hunting. And with one plains game safari under my belt and future trips planned in 2009 and 2011, he must have done something right.

RIP, Peter Hathaway Capstick.

After reading Capstick, I had to go to Africa for cape buff, it is Capstick's fault. Went in 06 and want to go again.

my post from earlier this year:

"I've heard many disparage Capstick. Liar, boozer, who cares? His writings entertain me. They lit the fire that took me and my family to Tanzania. I just hope that when I'm gone I've brought a similar amount of happiness to a complete stranger's life!"

waaaay back when; my dad subscribed to True and Argosy magazines. I was nine and Robert Ruark did a seven month serial about Africa, his rating each month starting with #5 up to #! He said the best way to commit suicide was mucking up a shot on Cape Buffalo. The cover had the classic Buff photo, head on looking down his nose at the camera. I grew up on a farm, and we had a cantankerous bull that was such an SOB we had to keep him penned separate.
Ruark said "Cape Buffalo; they look at you as if you owe them money!!".

December 11th I will head to Harare and the Makuti region to see if there is a 40+ incher with that same "as soon stomp on you as look at you" look in his eye.

Rich
DRSS
Knowledge not shared is knowledge lost...

E'gad, I cannot believe I am actually going this year, not fall of 2009

After reading "Death In The Long Grass" that was it I just had to go.

Jim Corbett lit the flame when I was 13, Capstick and Ruark focused it on Africa. Soon I will go soon ...

I was weaned on Jim Corbet and my dad's own stories of shooting tigers & leopards in India. I was charged by an elephant for the first time in 1970. I saw my first wild tiger in 1979. I have hunted deer and pigs in India .....I have wanted to hunt Africa ever since I read JA Hunter in 1970. Now I have read "Death in the long grass" a few times and the dream has not stopped....

PHC, you have been an inspiration to millions. RIP

PHC was the one who got my head turned in the direction of Africa. He started a dream that has yet to come to fruition, but it will....

He certainly helped - of course Hemingway did the heavy lifting.

Ruark, with an assist to Capstick and Craig B; they started that fire, and kept adding wood to the flames...

And next Summer, God willing, I will make another pilgrimage to our Mecca.

Rich

As a kid growing up, I was normally hunting but at 5:30 on Sunday evenings Mutual of Ohmahas "Wild Kingdom" came on and the African episodes along with Hatari started my desire. I always loved to watch Jim wrestle wild animals and get his but kicked while Marlin calmly narrated.

Capstick and Ruark pushed me over the edge.

SCI opened my eyes to Africa. Ruark is my favorite. I chased the North American species for 40 years. I wish I had started Africa much sooner. I love it over there.

quote:

Originally posted by bwanajay:
As a kid growing up, I was normally hunting but at 5:30 on Sunday evenings Mutual of Ohmahas "Wild Kingdom" came on and the African episodes along with Hatari started my desire. I always loved to watch Jim wrestle wild animals and get his but kicked while Marlin calmly narrated.

Capstick and Ruark pushed me over the edge.

Poor Jim

SSR

Missed this the first time around, but my answer would have been the same back then.

Capstick definitely put a hankering on me to go on a safari.