Horn of the Hunter, Robert C. Ruark

“The hunter’s horn sounds early for some, later for others.  For some unfortunates, poisoned by city sidewalks and sentenced to a cement jungle more horrifying that anything to be found in Tanganyika, the horn of the hunter never winds as all.  But deep in the gut of most men is buried the involuntary response to the hunter’s horn, a prickle of the nape hairs, an acceleration of the pulse, an atavistic memory of their forefathers, who killed first with stone, and then with club, and then with spear, and then with bow, and then with gun, and finally with formulae.”

The Horn of the Hunter is one of my favorite pieces of safari literature by one of my favorite authors, Robert C. Ruark.  This book tells of a safari Ruark and his wife Virginia embarked on guided by Harry Selby who began his carrier under the tutelage of the legendary hunter Philip Percival who guided Theodore Roosevelt, Baron Rothschild, and Ernest Hemingway on African hunts. 

Having been to Africa on several Safaris and hunting dangerous game, I would have to say it captures the spirit and the romance of the African Safari about as well as any book I have read on the subject.  There’s an understanding here that hunting is more than killing.  The dialogue is interesting and Ruark is witty and talented.  His descriptions of the animals and the country are superb and the book also has illustrations by Ruark that are quite good.  In the book you will discover fear, anxiety, restlessness, pride, triumph, and in the end respect and joy.