Wild Heart: The Story of Joy Adamson, Author of Born Free

by Anne E. Neimark

Discusses the extraordinary life and work of the woman best known for her relationship with a lion cub named Elsa whom she tamed and raised and eventually released into the wild. 12,500 first printing.

Genres: Africa, Biography

118 pages, Hardcover

First published March 15, 1999

Reviews

[Katherine S.]

So far I love this book! It will touch even the coldest heart and bring a grown man to tears. <3

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing woman. She was not perfect-far from it. But her persistence, endurance, and love for the wild are admirable. I can't wait to find and read more updated information about her and her husband. Very short. I read it in one day.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Born to a wealthy Austrian family, Joy Adamson felt disconnected from her mother. Her father, disappointed that she wasn't a boy, was strict and emotionally removed as a parent. Eventually, her parents divorced and started new marriages. As a child Joy was athletic and loved the outdoors and animals.

Joy had safer and more trustful relationships with animals than with humans. She adopted and parented an orphaned lion cub (Elsa), with a parenting process called imprinting. She also parented a leopard and a cheetah, returning all these animals to the wild after much training and patience.

She spent most of her adult life in Kenya, Africa.

Joy Adamson was an utterly fearless person who participated in safaris, climbed mountains, suffered malaria and broken bones.

She authored several books including Born Free, Living Free, and Forever Free. She toured several countries promoting her books and her interests in the conservation and humane treatment of wild animals.

[Kari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe my favorite story was her piano examination when she was saved from having to finish trying what she couldn't do because God had really helped her out even though the previous incident had seemed like a great trial, and she still was willing to show the judges that she would do all exam requirements if she could. It's my favorite because several times in my life I've had the same thing happen, especially with piano-related situations just like this.

[Linnae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating woman. Made me want to read Adamson's books.

[Raylene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joy Adamson is my hero.Alwsys has been..I wrote letters to her when I was but a child and she always answered me back..I have saved the letters to this day