Another in the Capstick collection of reprints by St. Martin's Press. This is a collection of stories and anecdotes by Denis Lyell on his years in Africa in the 1903 to 1920 era. Lyell is your consumate English sportsman and adventurer. He has written several other books, all good and easy reading. He crossed paths with Selous, Roosevelt, Stigand and Millais - all authors and adventurers.

He writes in the typical, unassuming British manner - "jolly good, got my arm chewed on by a lion, but brushed it off as a flesh wound" - and style.

Capstick writes a great intro in the book and seems truly enthralled with Lyell - almost hero worship in his praise. I like Lyell as well and this is a great "period" book full of the thoughts and ideas of the day about guns, game and ethics. He ends the book with a short discourse on his view of the future of African game and predicts its demise if "sportsmen" do not rise up and help control the slaughter. I cannot criticize him, but he was part of the slaughter with statements like - "I never hunted rhino for profit as I only took a few, however, I hunt elephants for money because I may as well do it because so many others are as well".

For serious students of Africana history and hunting history, this is a good book for you. I rate it a 7 on a 10 scale - not some much for content but for style and easy of reading. Enjoyable but there are 20 other books I would recommend ahead of this one.

Good reading, and as usual, Capstick does a fine job.