BURMA JACK

by Jack & Lowell Thomas Girsham ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 27, 1971

Burma Jack's hide is tough as water buffalo meat, chaps, but his tales are all liverwurst. For more than half a century, Jack (ne Girsham, a native Burman of Scottish descent) practically lived in the jungle mostly as a professional game ranger and hunter though during World War II he tracked Japs instead. These are Jack's best adventures told out of his own mouth: about elephant lore (beware the male afflicted with musth, a state of sexual excitement discernible when the beast's eyes water and he goes on a helluva tear), shooting tigers and speculating on supernatural weretigers, confrontations with sneaky cobras, and Japanese commandos who put a price on his wily old head (500 rupees and a bag of salt). Though it ends on a glum note -- postwar Asian nationalism forces Jack out of his jungle haunts to friendlier but much tamer England -- we agree with Lowell Thomas who encouraged and edited the stories that ""drama infuses every syllable and one doesn't need an overheated imagination to feel it."" Nor an overdeveloped intellect to enjoy it.

Pub Date: Sept. 27, 1971

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Norton

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1971

Categories: NONFICTION