I too am a bit confused regarding Capstick's writings. I have also heard the rumors and wondered. Years ago, when Capstick was first writing, I read an article by him in one of the outdoor mags in which he talked about his adventures with various snakes in Africa. I happen to know quite a bit about snakes, and his accounts were a total load of BS! Ever since that time, as he became a very successful writer, I was suspicious regarding truthfulness of his stories. He certainly was a very good writer! Do any of you have any comments on this? Yes, I also grew up reading Ruark and admired his stuff.

Tom

To O Garcia: While on the subject of Teddy Ballgame, let us note that he lost five of the best years of his career serving as a Marine aviator in World War II and Korea. And never complained about it.

Louis is generally ranked at the Number One heavyweight of all time, and is ranked as the number one puncher of all time by Ring Magazine--all weight divisions. Walcott might have beaten him in his prime, but the odds are not good.

Quick, for 10 extra Field and Stream Blog + points, who wrote Patsy Cline's hit 'Crazy' (1961)?

No fair cheating.

I read Robert Ruark's stuff as a kid and was always facinated by his storytelling. Maybe I need to buy that book!

Thanks, David

Only you, Dave, could pen an article of Africa with the opening line about a country singer...and baseball...nicely done!
Yea, Ruark was some kinda guy; Love his writings.

I just purchased a 1991 edition on Ebay for $30 and look forward to reading it. Thanks for the suggestion.

I have read all of Ruark's books, both of hunting and socio-political unrest in colonial east africa along with africanization. Something of Value and Uhuru should be mandatory reading for all history students, everyone for that matter, considering our current president is a product of Africanization and the students it sent here in the early 60's from Kenya.

Outstanding..Thanks for the report this is a definate must own.. since I have only been able to read a few or Ruark's writings..BTW thanks for the link..loads of other great books I want to read

I have Horn of the Hunter and Something of Value on my shelf. Ruark's quotes from Harry Shelby about African hunting are memorable, as is the quote in the preface to Something of Value: "If a man does away with his traditional way of living and throws away his good customs, he had better first make certain that he has something of value to replace them". Applies to lots of situations and I keep it on a sign on my shelf.

As Dave mentioned, Ruark wrote for many magazines and was a newspaper columnist. I always felt O'Connor and Keith looked down their noses at him because he was not a firearm expert. By the time Ruark died, he had spent more time hunting Africa than either of the "experts".
Reading his works, helped keep my African goals in mind which secondarily improved by income.
Pardon the typos in my earlier post, "if" for of, and "here" should have been hear

Stump, your record is stuck....stuck...stuck...stuck...

The way I heard it, Patsy Cline was no fan of Willie. I like his version of the song better anyway.

Ok, here's an aside: Who wrote the 70's cheese-O-rama song "Convoy?"

"Convoy" was performed and maybe written by "C.W. McCall" but I remember hearing some time ago that "C.W. McCall" was some other guy's pen name.

Love Ruarks writing. "The Old Man and the Boy" was my first, that one gets loaned to anyone and everyone who shows half a gleam of interest in the outdoors. Everyone should read it. My first edition "Use Enough Gun" stays safely on my shelf though. Even if it is another "must read", I can't let it out of the house, sorry.

I have all of Ruarks books EXCEPT "The Old Mans Boy Grows Older" and Grenadine Spawn ( Which has nothing to do with Africa or Hunting and This one which I have on order.

Dave,
I ordered and am reading Terry Wielands new Dangerous Game Rifles II. I've got most of Ruark's books but never had or read his mag articles, if that is what this book has I'd be glad to order it to.

I have read many of Peter Hatahway Capstick's books, I am confused, are they factual or merely novels.

How about a look at the DEP Library sometime. What do you read, collect and/or recommend? I am considering a gift of books to our local library that deal with hunting and the outdoors and the opinions of youself and fellow bloggers would ne welcome.

Once again Dave, thanks for the tip. Please do as Tom-Tom asked and give us that reading list from Professor Petzel.

It took me three years to find an affordable copy of Ruark's "I Didn't Know It Was Loaded". It was worth the wait.

Regarding Ruark and Capstick: I think Ruark was an author, Capstick a writer. Micky Spillane explained the difference but I can't remember the details.

Robert Ruark was one of the best outdoor writers that ever lived, and his book "Horn of the Hunter" is a classic of African hunting.I wish I could see the movie he made about one of his safaris. However, when he ventured into fiction, he wasn't as good, at least about Africa. It is a striking contrast with his nonfiction works. In "Horn of the Hunter" he makes fun of all the phoney cliches in safari novels, and then uses every one when HE wrote novels about Africa.I understand that "Something of Value" was regarded in Kenya as ridiculous, and laughed at.Pity that he didn't write more nonfiction books about Africa, but unfortunately sappy novels sell better,to people who don't know how unrealistic that they are.

Ruark was indeed without peer as a writer. I may be an ignoramus, but I prefer his writing to Hemingway's. I own five or six of his books, including "Robert Ruark's Africa" from 1995 and published by Countrysport Press. Years ago I checked out all his other books from the library and read them. It is a shame that he drank himself to death. I think he was 48 at the time of his death, and I believe he died in 1965--not '66. He was delightfully politically incorrect. In his book, "The Honey Badger" he wrote that this animal lived in Africa and that it attacked by going straight for the genitals..."much like the American female". Can you imagine writing something like that today?

Joe Louis held the title for 12 years, but some of those years were "war years" in which most of the "good men" (as the British would refer to them) were probably stuck in some munitions factory undiscovered, or bringing relief to Britain in some anonymous, unheralded merchant ship, or wearing a uniform and fighting the enemy, never to make the big time to challenge big old Joe. Don't get me wrong, I love Joe Louis, and his humble demeanor is something we all surely miss, but a properly fed Jersey Joe Walcott probably would have whupped him. Legend has it that in preparation for the 1st Schmelling fight (back when Joe still wasn't champ), Joe Louis's camp hired a hungry, often out of work journeyman heavyweight called Jersey Joe Walcott, and the journeyman soon found that Joe Louis often dropped his left hand after throwing a jab, leaving him open. Jersey Joe knocked him down in practice. Embarassed, they didn't rehire him the following week. When the fight came, Schmelling knocked Joe Louis out, exploiting the same weakness.

All credit to Joe Louis, his performances in rematches is remarkable. He knocked out Schmelling in the rematch, in one round. And to make up for his bad performance against Jersey Joe when they first fought (the real prizefight, not the sparring fight), in which he won a dubious decision, he knocked Jersey Joe out too.

If only it stayed that way. An ungrateful government bled him dry with taxes and he had to go back to the ring, suffering the indignity of losing to Ezzard Charles and Rocky Marciano.

As for Ted Williams, I wonder how much better he might have been if he had hit with his dominant hand, the right hand.

O Garcia- I always find your comments reasoned and well written. Seems like lately you cannot even express an opinion here without getting negative feedback. I took the liberty of removing both negative comments coming from the peanut gallery. Cheers!

Dave, good points about Ted Williams. Also, I wonder what his 1941 batting average would have been if the sacrifice fly had been in play. I don't believe it was, so many of his fly balls that advanced runners were ruled as "oh-for" at-bats.

Too bad Louis and Marciano couldn't have met while both were in their primes. What a battle that would have been!

I forgot to mention Patsy Cline. What a sweet voiced honey she was. Poor gal didn't deserve the life she had. 'Crazy' by Willie Nelson hooked me.

Ruark was an author, Hemingway was a writer, Capstick was a storyteller and Selby is a hunter! I found a copy of "Something of Value" when I was twelve and read it without my parents knowing. Mother found it later and was mortified; she thought it was too "adult" for me. It may not have been totally accurate but of course it is fiction. He was still a great Author. Just before Christmas I reread "Horn of the Hunter" I just ordered Robert Ruark’s Africa, from Safari press and am anxiously awaiting its arrival.

Hmmmm ?? well ,...Mr Petzal
Aside from the vast polical chasm that seperates us

The truth is, aside from that venue.
I actually happpen to think you do a pretty dam good job "On Africa". Have read a few articles over the years.
Maybe not as frilly as those before you.
And thankfully not as uppity as some of your contemporaries. Or should I say recent contemporaries.
Even the special brand of Petzal sarcasm if taken the way I percieve it.
Beats the feathers off some pissy uppity pain in the stock and checkering faries butt .

I would even go so far as to suggest you yourslef get on that train

Unexpected as this smay be ,. a rule I have is this.
(It is what it is )
Thusly in my huumble opinion you "is" a good writer ,. so if you haven't,.. consider writing a book on Africa,
If you already have tell me which one please.

Best Regards ( except for the political stuff)

Yohan

Willie

Thanks Dave. i don't think i've read any Rourke, but when I was a kid, I loved reading capstick. I ordered the book, to be sent to my pizza store so the wife doesn't find out I spent another 35 bucks! Anyways, i'm looking forward to the read. I just wish it didn't take 12 to 15 days to get here. That always ticks me off as it didn't take that long to charge my cc :)

This is just my opinion but I do believe (the young) Cassius Clay would have whooped (the young) Joe Louis, but I shouldn't talk cause I never seen a young Joe Louis. And I heard he was very powerful. So was Sonny Liston but I guess he shouldn't count cause when Clay fought him he was owned by the mafia.

Ifyouhave not Robert's huning in Africaby all means by is books immeditely. I buy and read all can on he and Elmer Keith,two complete differet hunters and writers,but both just as interesting.I doubt they wold agre on the same guns as well.Too bad he drank himself to death and died broke.The hunting world lost legend for sure.

Forgive my typing and spelling.New Puter as s fast as lighting. Anway,buy smd read up on both,or go to the local Library, they should hsve bome books o Robert f t Elmer. I have abot 40 copies of letters he wrote to a good friend of mine,who visted his Ranch once or twice. His spelling snd wriingabot ike mine,have to read and re-read to understsnd himQite a guy in his day. Doubt we would be enjoing the 44 mag without is knowledge of guns and ammo. Iwanted a 44 mg,btsafter seeing the Ubert i 44-40 decided on it,glad I did. Hoe about thst shot at and klledhe Mule around 400yds out.

We have several of his other books, but not this one. I'll be ordering it for out library. We need all the hunting and shooting books we can get there.

Ahhh crap sorry for double post
Dont like you THAT much ya know

Who wrote Crazy? That's an easy one. The great Willie Nelson.

Matt28, It will take longer than MY lifetime for sure ( I am (will be) 69 in August :(

Hee hee ,..
Told ya short croch we got you pegged as a drunk and a phony,.usually drunks are phonys and broke to boot.
So as I said,.. you aint worth the time,. until somebody ( probably a trucker) or some he knows feeds us the right info.
Then ??? good idea you have a large supply of depends,. the senior diaper. Y Y