Yea, I know. It has been awhile since I reviewed a book. Frankly, I got a bit tired of the fluff and the "I went there and shot that" books. I also tired of the "how to" books.

I took up a new pursuit, chasing down the lesser known authors who published books in the early 1900's about their experiences in Africa.

Pori Tupu is my latest discovery. I have heard of the book for the past few years and only recently tracked down a copy I could afford. A well worn rescue from a thrift book shop. Inside the book was business card of a arbitration advocate for the Boston postal workers. A note was also in it - "Box 3 - Across the Kalihari, Lions of Tsavo, Notch of the Bear, Pori Tupu, Printing African (?), A Ways Out, Hunter, Tales of the African Frontier"
Looked like a book list of someone trying to sell a collection or donate one.

Anyway, I am the luckier for having found this one. Koenig wrote the book in 1954 in German and translated it himself into English. His English is better than mine. He was a German adventurer that happened to settle in Kenya before WWI. He aligned himself with the Brits and stayed out of the war and detention camps. He writes about hunting, living, farming, ranching and guiding from the wild days of the 1910's to the 1940's when things changed forever with the advent of the hunting vehicle. He worked in a couple of the game parks, the Ngorogoro Crater and knew a lot of the founders of the conservation movement in Africa. His collection of stories are about a few hunts, a few unusual people and several unusual stories.

You will find this book a glimpse into the past of our African hunting heritage. Koenig is a sportsman and effectively quit shooting to take pictures. He was a professional hunter but not a professional killer. He carried with him the old line European ethics and sense of fair play and sportsmanship.

If you can get a copy, do so. You will feel refreshed as you do. I see a slow return to ethics and integrity in our sport. This book gives you a hope for our future, if we can embrace a respect for the game that Koenig had.

I rate this a solid 9 out of 10 on the dogcat scale.

More to come.

Thanks, Dogcat.

Your reviews are great and need a larger audience. Have you thought about offering your services to Sporting Classics or a similar publication?

I don't have Pori Tupu, but intend to search out a copy.

Bill Quimby

One here: http://www.shakariconnection.c...loration-books4.html

Dogcat

If you care to review any books for the bookshelf, we'd welcome any and all contributions here: http://www.shakariconnection.c...ng-book-reviews.html

quote:

Originally posted by billrquimby:
Thanks, Dogcat.

Your reviews are great and need a larger audience. Have you thought about offering your services to Sporting Classics or a similar publication?

I don't have Pori Tupu, but intend to search out a copy.

Bill Quimby

Bill,
Thanks for the compliment. I have not thought of that, but would be happy to if there is a need. I posted a number of reviews in the forum a couple of years ago.

I enjoy the older books and frequently compare them to the newer authors. My current favorite is Stewart Edward White and a couple of his books. He was really a joy to read.