Bring 'em Back Alive

by Frank Buck, Steven Lehrer (Editor)

Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

Genres: History, Classics

308 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1930

About the author

Frank Howard Buck (March 17, 1884 – March 25, 1950) was an American hunter, animal collector, and author, as well as a film actor, director, and producer. Beginning in the 1910s he made many expeditions into Asia for the purpose of hunting and collecting exotic animals, bringing over 100,000 live specimens back to the United States and elsewhere for zoos and circuses and earning a reputation as an adventurer. He co-authored seven books chronicling or based on his expeditions, beginning with 1930's Bring 'Em Back Alive, which became a bestseller. Between 1932 and 1943 he starred in seven adventure films based on his exploits, most of which featured staged "fights to the death" with various wild beasts. He was also briefly a director of the San Diego Zoo, displayed wild animals at the 1933–34 Century of Progress exhibition and 1939 New York World's Fair, toured with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, and co-authored an autobiography, 1941's All in a Lifetime. The Frank Buck Zoo in Buck's hometown of Gainesville, Texas is named after him.

Reviews

[David Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bring 'em Back Alive! by Frank Buck (Buck Press 2007) (591.5) was first published in 1930.

These tales sounded to many a young adventurer as though Tarzan had sprung to life! Explorer of darkest worlds, capturer of ferocious jungle beasts - who wouldn't have wanted to be Frank Buck?

My rating: 7/10, finished 1982. I purchased a new PB copy of this on Amazon on 11/1/22 for $11.53.

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[Steven "Steve" · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first learned about Frank Buck when watching 1982’s “Bring ‘em Back Alive" on tv but didn’t realize that he had written multiple books about his exploits in the 20’s and 30’s capturing and purchasing animals for circuses and scientists in many far-off climes. Imagine my delight when I found this book at a library sale. Although the sensibilities of the time (to put it nicely) were far different than today, I found this a very interesting and entertaining read. And now finally, after a 44-year hiatus, I at last have closure on a tv show doomed to failure when it was scheduled opposite of "The A-Team" despite riding the tailcoats of "Raider’s of the Lost Ark". Wow, those were some fun times, weren’t they?

[Alexandra Harmon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bring ‘Em Back Alive is the out-of-print memoirs of Frank Buck, an animal-capturer from the 1910’s till into the 1930’s when this book was published. His adventures are a bit like the literary equivalent of The Crocodile Hunter, if The Crocodile Hunter included more lassoing man-eating tigers, fist-fighting with orangutans, being flung through the air by elephant trunks, running through the streets of Singapore in a union-suit, ship passengers conducting monkey-capturing competitions, and a heck of a lot more gin.

Why yes. It is as awesome as it sounds.

Truly, this book was a joy to read. Each chapter is an individual vignette, and Buck had a talent for telling each story in a snappy, satisfying way, while still including a lot of rich detail about the people and animals he encountered in his travels all over the Asian continent. He also had this very wry sense of humor that only becomes funnier with the addition of alcohol.

Surprisingly enough, Buck’s attitude toward animals was just the salve I needed after my last review, as Hemingway definitely would have labeled Buck an animal over-identifier. Although I’m sure some would argue that his entire profession violated the rights’ and well-being of animals, his words nonetheless portray both a passion about and compassion toward his fellow creatures. He more than once risked his own life to save one of his captures and experienced real pain when he was unsuccessful (“To me, an animal dying is as painful a sight as a human death,” he states simply.)

This sentiment becomes apparent in one of the very first chapters, in which he describes a truly horrific act of animal cruelty performed in a royal court against a tiger for the sake of entertainment. It was quite heart-breaking to read, but Buck described the tiger’s expressions and emotions with such empathy that it actually brought tears to my eyes.

As much as I enjoyed Buck’s story-telling, though, I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that this fun little book does a flaw, and it’s one of the big ones: RACISM. Buck’s attitude toward the Asian people he works and trades with leaves a lot to be desired for the modern reader.

This book isn’t really hateful, just condescending, with a tendency toward stereotyping Asian cultures in an uncharitable light. He always calls his assistant Ali — who he actually seems to have a real affection and respect for — “boy,” for example. He even seems to be aware of the problem with this: “Ali, though past fifty, was still a ‘boy,’ as all native workers are.” He also uses unfortunate terms like “barbarian” and “primitive” in his descriptions of the Asian “natives.”

It honestly saddens me that something so fun and breezy is marred by something so unequivocally negative. Every time he makes fun of some trader (“Sakais…look so much like monkeys I’ve been tempted more than once to bring back some specimens and exhibit them,” he jokes in passing.”) or mentions some stereotype off-the-cuff , the result is jarring and took me out of the flow and enjoyment of reading.

A much wordier version of this review is available on my blog.

[Vinay Bysani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frank Buck, the famous animal collector for zoo/circus etc tells some of his adventures/stories. What i enjoyed is to know how it was back then 100years ago, Countries having very few regulations on animal trade etc. Definitely not boring, but make sure you park your moral compass of 21st century before you pick this up, as you are reading early 1900's

[R.L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book as a child. I still have the old book. These are adventures set in the wild during a time when most of these animals were way more exotic than during this time of fast information from the internet. This book was published in a time when there was very little entertaining television offered. These stories brought to life the adventures of a man determined to educate the rest of the world and who worked hard to help prevent the extinction of more creatures in the wild.

[Nate Hendrix · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. Funny to get the perspective from the early 1920's. Lots of exciting and funny stories about animals.

[Julian]

I liked this boom a lot. It had lots of action and adventure. Even thought it was published over fifty years ago it is still a very good book.