A Man Called Lion: The Life and Times of John Howard Pondoro Taylor

by Peter Hathaway Capstick

Nothing is held back in this complete biography of John Howard Pondoro Taylor. This is Capstick at his best on one of Africa's most intriguing characters.

Genres: Africa

260 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 1996

About the author

Peter Hathaway Capstick was an American hunter and author. Born in New Jersey and educated at (although did not graduate from) the University of Virginia, he walked away from a successful Wall Street career shortly before his thirtieth birthday to become a professional hunter, first in Central and South America and later (and most famously) in Africa. Capstick spent much of his life in Africa, a land he called his "source of inspiration." A chain smoker and heavy drinker, he died at age 56 from complications following heart surgery.

Reviews

[Dave · Rating 1 out of 5]

Published in 1994, a slightly different time, about a poacher who lived in a very different time, this book is so nonlinear, so convoluted, that making sense of any of it is a chore to say the least. This is the story of a "famous ivory hunter" supposedly, however much of this hodgepodge is about the people researching the history and his acquaintances interspersed with tales of the man. Sadly, the man himself did have some fantastic stories, most of which appear to be severely embellished, but as a big game hunter he was as the other "famous ivory hunters" were; poachers and slaughterers of wildlife with no regard for law and little regard for game. As a man, he appears to have been a destitute man of his own making who had a talent for writing. Lastly, his sexuality is questioned over and over again and again in this book... quite a phobic writing. One would do better reading John Howard Taylor's own works, not this.

[Andrew J Raatz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just a so-so book. Plenty of other hunting books that are better.

[Craig Schlossin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good hunter, interesting life.

[Larry · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was expecting much about a legend. The book is all over the place. It has been written as though compiled from a lot of pieces written for magazines.

[Michael Tee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seeing he lived with my great aunt and knew my family both in Africa and in South Australia and nothing is mentioned I find it not well researched at all.