HUNTER'S CHOICE

by Alexander Lake ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 17, 1954

An astounding catch -- these stories of the author's experiences as a professional hunter in Africa. The successor to Killers in Africa (reported in the January 1, 1953 issue of the Bulletin, p. 33) stars the men who hunt, with the creatures of the continent in vivid supporting roles. The author emerges as a real Humphrey Bogart type character -- may hombre -- as he tracks a lion for a setup shot to make Mussolini look big; takes a sidetrack from a safari to deal with natives, Arabs and shady inspectors over a tortured carrier and some emeralds; finds the killer of his ninety year old friend and teacher Jenssen, but loses his dope addict witness to a pack of hunting dogs; takes a spiderphobe of an entomologist on a safari to fight fear and ends up rescuing him from quicksand, etc.... Humor and drama are in these stories, as in the fabulous hunt when Ubusuku on a bet between white men killed all the dangerous beasts of the area from elephant to crocodile without a gun, or in the story of the safari that proved a young Englishman to himself. Further exploits are salted down with an amazing amount of information on creature-ways, and there are pages of recipes for game from sour-sweet ostrich eggs to baked hippo ham. The author's attention to the content of witchdoctoring and the movement back of the Mau Mau make one feel that he knows the natives as well as he does the creatures of Africa. Nicobar Jones as a great hunter, Miki Carter and other intrepid cameramen come in for kind words. This is adventure and more -- for it reveals a way of life in which resourcefulness, courage and experience mean all. The natural world is Alexander Lake's oyster.

Pub Date: June 17, 1954

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Doubleday

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 1954

Categories: NONFICTION