ELEPHANTS HAVE RIGHT OF WAY

by Betty & Jock Leslie-Melville ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 5, 1972

Ilka Chase may have the ""retired"" fun-safari enclave locked up in her Mark Cross tote bag, but the Leslie-Melvilles, who lecture in the U.S. and run photographic treks to Africa, carry on for jaunty types of all ages. Jack Paar bestows his imprimatur in an introduction (""Betty and Jock are two of my favorite people"") and the authors should feel right at home under his sanction, since they share Paar's tendency (but less of his skill) at putting down by laughing it up. We have here many, many razzmatazz cheers for living in Nairobi and for Africans, primitive and unprimitive (""Who stay in their own groups out of preference""), followed by scads of anecdotes about the funny things they do -- like the servant who served a pudding in a frisbee. There are of course those who steal but ""the African's stealing is understandable to me. . . many are so poor."" It is interesting to compare the jolly Leslie-Melville view of Nairobians with Fletcher's (see above): ""In African eyes. . . resentment and distrust and anger and often hate."" There are many amusing stories about ""kinky"" people -- from those outside city limits (""Primitive tribes are at their most comic when confronted by modern contrivances"") to Western celebrities. And there are innumerable yocks about family travails, and a bit about animals and the funny things they do. With tips to group tourists to ease the culture shock although for these good fellows it's always fair weather.

Pub Date: Jan. 5, 1972

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Doubleday

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 1972

Categories: NONFICTION