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Story of Elsa #2
Living Free
The astonishing story of Joy Adamson's friendship with Elsa the lioness and her cubs.LIVING FREE is a vivid, day-by-day record of the development of this friendship, from the time of Elsa's mating with a wild lion until her cubs are one year old."Deeply moving... A book about love, written by a human who lives by love rather than by convention and fear." -- Gavin Maxwell, Observer
159 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1961
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About the author
Joy Adamson
46 books87 followersJoy Adamson (born Friederike Victoria Gessner) was a naturalist, artist, and author best known for her book, Born Free, which describes her experiences raising a lion cub named Elsa. Born Free was printed in several languages, and made into an Academy Award-winning movie of the same name. In 1977, she was awarded the Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art.
Born to Victor and Traute Gessner in Troppau, Silesia, Austria-Hungary (now Opava, Czech Republic) and was the 2nd of 3 girls. Her father was a wealthy architect. After the divorce of her parents, Joy went to live with her grandmother. In her autobiography The Searching Spirit, Adamson wrote about her grandmother, saying, "It is to her I owe anything that may be good in me."
Adamson considered careers as a concert pianist, and in medicine, but did not take her finals in medicine, instead chosing to get married. She married 3 times in the span of ten years. Her husbands were Viktor von Klarwill (Ziebel) 1902-1985, (Jewish Austrian), the botanist Peter Bally (divorced in 1942), who gave her the nickname "Joy", and lastly game warden George Adamson. Viktor sent her to Africa, Bally influenced her painting and drawing of the people and the plant life of Africa. 600 of her paintings now belong to the National Museum of Kenya. The Colonial Government of Kenya commissioned her to paint portraits of members of 22 tribes whose culture was vanishing.
It was during her marriage to George Adamson that she lived in tent camps in Kenya and first met Elsa, the topic of her famous book Born Free. Adamson is best known for her conservation efforts associated with Elsa the Lioness. They decided to set her free rather than send her to a zoo, and spent many months training her to hunt and survive on her own. They were successful in the end, and Elsa became the first lioness successfully released back into the wild, the first to have contact after release, and the first known to have cubs. The Adamsons kept their distance from the cubs, getting close enough only to photograph them. After the book was written and published in 1960, it became a bestseller, spending 13 weeks at the top of The New York Times Best Seller list and nearly a year on the chart overall.
After Elsa died, George and Joy Adamson separated and were not together after 1971. On 3 January 1980, in Shaba National Reserve in Kenya, Joy Adamson's body was discovered by her assistant, Peter Morson (sometimes reported as Pieter Mawson). He mistakenly assumed she had been killed by a lion, and this was what was initially reported by the media. Police investigation found Adamson's wounds were too sharp and bloodless to have been caused by an animal, and concluded she had been murdered. Paul Nakware Ekai, a discharged laborer formerly employed by Adamson, was found guilty of murder and sentenced to imprisonment at President Daniel arap Moi's pleasure. Joy's widower, George Adamson, was murdered 9 years later, in 1989, near his camp in Kora National by poachers.
Born to Victor and Traute Gessner in Troppau, Silesia, Austria-Hungary (now Opava, Czech Republic) and was the 2nd of 3 girls. Her father was a wealthy architect. After the divorce of her parents, Joy went to live with her grandmother. In her autobiography The Searching Spirit, Adamson wrote about her grandmother, saying, "It is to her I owe anything that may be good in me."
Adamson considered careers as a concert pianist, and in medicine, but did not take her finals in medicine, instead chosing to get married. She married 3 times in the span of ten years. Her husbands were Viktor von Klarwill (Ziebel) 1902-1985, (Jewish Austrian), the botanist Peter Bally (divorced in 1942), who gave her the nickname "Joy", and lastly game warden George Adamson. Viktor sent her to Africa, Bally influenced her painting and drawing of the people and the plant life of Africa. 600 of her paintings now belong to the National Museum of Kenya. The Colonial Government of Kenya commissioned her to paint portraits of members of 22 tribes whose culture was vanishing.
It was during her marriage to George Adamson that she lived in tent camps in Kenya and first met Elsa, the topic of her famous book Born Free. Adamson is best known for her conservation efforts associated with Elsa the Lioness. They decided to set her free rather than send her to a zoo, and spent many months training her to hunt and survive on her own. They were successful in the end, and Elsa became the first lioness successfully released back into the wild, the first to have contact after release, and the first known to have cubs. The Adamsons kept their distance from the cubs, getting close enough only to photograph them. After the book was written and published in 1960, it became a bestseller, spending 13 weeks at the top of The New York Times Best Seller list and nearly a year on the chart overall.
After Elsa died, George and Joy Adamson separated and were not together after 1971. On 3 January 1980, in Shaba National Reserve in Kenya, Joy Adamson's body was discovered by her assistant, Peter Morson (sometimes reported as Pieter Mawson). He mistakenly assumed she had been killed by a lion, and this was what was initially reported by the media. Police investigation found Adamson's wounds were too sharp and bloodless to have been caused by an animal, and concluded she had been murdered. Paul Nakware Ekai, a discharged laborer formerly employed by Adamson, was found guilty of murder and sentenced to imprisonment at President Daniel arap Moi's pleasure. Joy's widower, George Adamson, was murdered 9 years later, in 1989, near his camp in Kora National by poachers.
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September 17, 2022
This is the first edition I owned of the remarkable story Living Free. Like most of the population of Great Britain, I had been overwhelmed when I first saw the 1966 film Born Free, and along with almost everyone else, rushed to buy the book it was based on, (as soon as I had some birthday money). Born Free told the story of a female lion cub, Elsa, who was raised in captivity, and then returned to the wild. I was also able to buy this sequel, describing the fully-grown Elsa, and her cubs as they matured. The books were written by Joy Adamson, the wife of the Senior Game Warden of Kenya. Together, they had made this remarkable story happen in real life.
This is that edition, dating from 1967, and the second part of what had become a trilogy. I loved this book but as with all small paperbacks, the photographs contained seem a bit too small. They are all in monochrome, as the first edition of the book dates from 1961, and this was normal practice for the time. Eventually I was to buy a copy of the first edition, with larger photographs, (although that is now about to go to the charity shop).
Eventually in 1972, a film came out titled Living Free. The film starred Susan Hampshire as Joy Adamson, with Nigel Davenport as her husband, George Adamson. However, the film is largely based on the third book in the trilogy, "Forever Free".
"Born Free" and Living Free were to be followed by "Forever Free". All three books had an significant impact on wildlife conservation and attitudes to the environment. I have read the books and watched the films many times over the years, and owned several editions including a composite, unillustrated Large Print volume, containing all three parts.
This is that edition, dating from 1967, and the second part of what had become a trilogy. I loved this book but as with all small paperbacks, the photographs contained seem a bit too small. They are all in monochrome, as the first edition of the book dates from 1961, and this was normal practice for the time. Eventually I was to buy a copy of the first edition, with larger photographs, (although that is now about to go to the charity shop).
Eventually in 1972, a film came out titled Living Free. The film starred Susan Hampshire as Joy Adamson, with Nigel Davenport as her husband, George Adamson. However, the film is largely based on the third book in the trilogy, "Forever Free".
"Born Free" and Living Free were to be followed by "Forever Free". All three books had an significant impact on wildlife conservation and attitudes to the environment. I have read the books and watched the films many times over the years, and owned several editions including a composite, unillustrated Large Print volume, containing all three parts.
January 1, 2021
The second book in the Story of Elsa series, Living Free shows Elsa gaining some independence in the bush. She falls in love and mates with a lion and becomes a mother. This was rather cute at first but I found this book rather repetitive. Reading this right after the first one, I got a bit tired of reading how Elsa goes and comes and how many goats are killed in her honour. At some point, it just becomes a series of diary entries without much distinguishing one day from the other.
Elsa also gives birth to three cubs, whom the Adamsons name Jespah, Gopa, and Little Elsa (a bit of originality right there!). It was interesting to see how Elsa introduces them to her adoptive parents and it was fun to read about the cubs’ antics. But again, it becomes boringly repetitive. Most of the book just appears to be one huge filler.
Some random people come to visit Elsa and her cubs and each time, the same stuff is repeated. At this rate, I could write an Elsa story because I now know to repeat a few things about her everyday life on a loop. Sheesh! It felt as if the book would never end, and that’s a sure sign that the writing is bad, despite an interesting subject.
The author keeps repeating that she wanted the cubs to go wild but then kept feeding them and taking care of them without allowing them to develop their instincts. Ultimately, they begin to trust the Adamsons, especially Jespah, and become almost tame. Both Elsa and her cubs were half tame and half wild, which is a bad combination for life in either side of the divide! I am not too impressed with the handling of the couple on this issue.
Elsa also gives birth to three cubs, whom the Adamsons name Jespah, Gopa, and Little Elsa (a bit of originality right there!). It was interesting to see how Elsa introduces them to her adoptive parents and it was fun to read about the cubs’ antics. But again, it becomes boringly repetitive. Most of the book just appears to be one huge filler.
Some random people come to visit Elsa and her cubs and each time, the same stuff is repeated. At this rate, I could write an Elsa story because I now know to repeat a few things about her everyday life on a loop. Sheesh! It felt as if the book would never end, and that’s a sure sign that the writing is bad, despite an interesting subject.
The author keeps repeating that she wanted the cubs to go wild but then kept feeding them and taking care of them without allowing them to develop their instincts. Ultimately, they begin to trust the Adamsons, especially Jespah, and become almost tame. Both Elsa and her cubs were half tame and half wild, which is a bad combination for life in either side of the divide! I am not too impressed with the handling of the couple on this issue.
September 17, 2022
This is the original first edition of Living Free: The Story of Elsa and Her Cubs from 1961. Most people now know the story of a lion cub, who was raised in captivity, and then returned to the wild, which is told in Born Free. This is the second part of the trilogy, written by Joy Adamson, wife of the Senior Game Warden of Kenya. Together, they made this remarkable story happen. Of this sequel, Joy Adamson says:
"Since Elsa's cubs were born I have kept notes in which I have recorded what we observed of Elsa and her family when we were in camp. Living Free is based on those notes, and this explains its form, and the use of the present tense in relation to Elsa."
Born Free: A Lioness of Two Worlds contains many monochrome photographs, on glossy paper in groups throughout the text, plus a few odd colour photographs, with one as the frontispiece. All the photographs are full page, or half page; a generous size as this book is larger than an average hardback. The print is "Collins Clear-Type", which is as it says a good clear text size for those who read normal print, and the paper is extremely good, of a heavy, dense quality, which has not even yellowed over the intervening almost 70 years. The book contains an Introduction by Sir Julian Huxley, who had visited the couple at their camp.
This is the second copy of Living Free which I bought, as it was a vast improvement on the paperback. I also had a complete audio edition, and a composite, unillustrated Large Print volume, including this one, plus the original "Born Free" and the third part of the trilogy, "Forever Free".
"Since Elsa's cubs were born I have kept notes in which I have recorded what we observed of Elsa and her family when we were in camp. Living Free is based on those notes, and this explains its form, and the use of the present tense in relation to Elsa."
Born Free: A Lioness of Two Worlds contains many monochrome photographs, on glossy paper in groups throughout the text, plus a few odd colour photographs, with one as the frontispiece. All the photographs are full page, or half page; a generous size as this book is larger than an average hardback. The print is "Collins Clear-Type", which is as it says a good clear text size for those who read normal print, and the paper is extremely good, of a heavy, dense quality, which has not even yellowed over the intervening almost 70 years. The book contains an Introduction by Sir Julian Huxley, who had visited the couple at their camp.
This is the second copy of Living Free which I bought, as it was a vast improvement on the paperback. I also had a complete audio edition, and a composite, unillustrated Large Print volume, including this one, plus the original "Born Free" and the third part of the trilogy, "Forever Free".
August 14, 2017
This is my second time around for this book, yes it's a slow read but I still enjoyed it, not as much as the first book I must admit. It holds a fascination for me because it reminds me of my childhood and the fact that Joy so loved her connection with these animals. That alone is worth the read. The photos are not professional, however they are so personal, and cannot be duplicated by anyone who does not have a close affection with an animal that they love.
February 13, 2018
I honestly did not think I would enjoy this book as much as I did. This came from a pair of naturalists similar to David Attenborough who were bringing new information to the world on animal behavior. They personified the animals quite a bit, which is generally frowned upon today but it brought to much to the story. This a day by day journal in the life of a wild released lioness raising her cubs. I suggest this book to anyone who loves animals, and enjoys nonfiction stories about how they live. Even though it is outdated (from the 60s) I found the love the human caretakers had for their lioness to be very compelling, and I wish the story had a happier ending.
December 9, 2025
I loved these books as a child. My aunt bought me all 3 but I only have one now. I’ve lost 2 of them through the years. My aunt loved animals especially felines so I loved them too. My book was published in 1961 so that’s when she probably bought it. I was just a toddler then. I loved these books ever since I can remember. I loved the film too. The love of a lion changed lives. Raisin a cub and reintroducing it to the wild took patience and strength. They did it and Elsa lived as a lion should. A great book.
April 3, 2020
Reading this book I often found myself annoyed and disgusted with the choices these "animal lovers" make. The beginning of the book opens with a plea for readers to not judge the author too harshly for "anthropomorphizing" lions, and to instead recognize the important of what can be learned by seeing humanity through animals - and while I think there is indeed something lost by simply writing animals off as well, animals, these people take it too far. They seem to recognize not just human choices but human understanding in Elsa, and at least her one son, Jespah. But in this choice alone, they ignore the fact that Elsa's two other cubs do not react in the same way, Elsa may just be genetically designed to seek connection more than other lions (same with her son), to the point where they seek it in humans (Elsa was raised by them, and Jespah practically was too). But because this isnt the case with all lions (as shown by her two other cubs) they not only destroy their own theories by ignoring every case, they idiotically open up the idea that lions can be domesticated. Something which is a danger to the generally dumb public. Obviously this book is from the 50s but the teachings of idiots like Joy and George Adamson remain today, they show in the cases like the currently popular TV show "Tiger King" and the idiots who support the exotic pet trade industry, just to later regret their choice of pet and force the animal into the already over-packed sanctuaries or force these owners to take the easy way out and simply kill the animal.
I can only hope that humanity is moving away from dumb ideas such as those of the Adamsons. The number one worst choice that they make was to have ever played a direct role in caring for the cubs - even going against the lions clear intentions and seeking out the cubs on their own simply to "see if they're alive." Like back off, either their dead and there's nothing you can do, or they're alive and Elsa clearly doesnt want you around them. I wouldnt have been surprised at all if she has attacked them at that point, and once again she would have been painted as the monster, instead of the people who pushed a mother with her young into a corner.
I can only hope that humanity is moving away from dumb ideas such as those of the Adamsons. The number one worst choice that they make was to have ever played a direct role in caring for the cubs - even going against the lions clear intentions and seeking out the cubs on their own simply to "see if they're alive." Like back off, either their dead and there's nothing you can do, or they're alive and Elsa clearly doesnt want you around them. I wouldnt have been surprised at all if she has attacked them at that point, and once again she would have been painted as the monster, instead of the people who pushed a mother with her young into a corner.
September 27, 2015
Unfortunately as did it's prequel Born Free I must just give Living Free 3/5 stars. love reading about Elsa and her cubs don't get me wrong but Im not sure whether it's Joys writing techniques or something else that it wasn't a book I couldn't put down. In fact it's taken me longer than I've spend reading any other books to read these two. It is a lovely story but a bit of a slow read for me. I will continue and read Forever Free and hopefully it will be more enjoyable if not sad as it will be the last of Elsa story I'd I'm correct xx
July 21, 2011
Read twice. Once was my grandmother's copy. The second time was a BookCrossing copy. The book always reminds me of my grandmother.
June 5, 2018
Written with love and a great understanding of the big cats, the author tells the story of a special relationship with Elsa, a lion who she knows from her time taking care of her.
August 22, 2020
What a wonderful book! It was a gift from a friend who saw it in Lincoln Cat Care shop and bought it for me on a whim. It took me right back to my childhood, those wonderful days when I couldn’t stop reading and most of the books that I read were animal books; innocent days, watching Born Free in the camp cinema at RAF North Cotes and crying my eyes out because of the bad things that happened to Elsa. I can’t remember at what point I became disillusioned with animal books, but I think it had a lot to do with this modern philosophy of non-interference, or that sadistic way of portraying nature red in tooth and claw. Both appal me. I know I can’t bear to watch nature films anymore, whether by David Attenborough or any other modernists. The minute you intrude upon the wilderness you are interfering with animals. Fact. The minute you build or expand another city you are interfering with the animals. Fact. Need I go on? Animals are increasingly pressed into the margins and even there they are not safe. So much for non-interference.
Living Free was written in 1961, an era much less politically correct, in which the human population was about one third of what it has expanded to now. This is a world we can no longer recognise and so this will not be everyone’s cup of tea. It annoyed me that the Adamsons fed the lions on goats for instance. Surely they could see they were making goats into a prey species for Elsa and her cubs and causing problems further down the line? That was my only real problem with their story though. I found the style was easy to read and it was lovely hearing about the adventures of Elsa and her babies. I could see my own cats in the mischievous behaviour of the lion cubs and Elsa herself in the camp and there was evidence of thought, planning and emotion in their behaviour. It was horrible when Elsa was injured and remarkable that Joy was so trusted that she was able to treat her wounds. The ending was heart-rending, but at least the poachers didn’t kill her.
Joy Adamson was a remarkably courageous woman in my opinion and she obviously loved the animals and the Africa she knew despite the many problems. As for anthropomorphism, I am sorry but if you acknowledge evolution as a fact you cannot in all honesty deny that all beings share certain qualities, emotion and thought being common to all conscious beings and language merely a form of communication that we take in a different direction. It is remarkable that wild animals understand and communicate not only with us but with other species. Read it, it is certainly worthwhile. I only wish some of these trendy film makers would care more about the animals they exploit for gain as well as knowledge. All lives matter, all beings are connected by the miracles of DNA and evolution and all share the field phenomenon of consciousness. I have absolutely no doubt of that. In time, I hope all anthropocentric thinkers will learn to accept this.
Living Free was written in 1961, an era much less politically correct, in which the human population was about one third of what it has expanded to now. This is a world we can no longer recognise and so this will not be everyone’s cup of tea. It annoyed me that the Adamsons fed the lions on goats for instance. Surely they could see they were making goats into a prey species for Elsa and her cubs and causing problems further down the line? That was my only real problem with their story though. I found the style was easy to read and it was lovely hearing about the adventures of Elsa and her babies. I could see my own cats in the mischievous behaviour of the lion cubs and Elsa herself in the camp and there was evidence of thought, planning and emotion in their behaviour. It was horrible when Elsa was injured and remarkable that Joy was so trusted that she was able to treat her wounds. The ending was heart-rending, but at least the poachers didn’t kill her.
Joy Adamson was a remarkably courageous woman in my opinion and she obviously loved the animals and the Africa she knew despite the many problems. As for anthropomorphism, I am sorry but if you acknowledge evolution as a fact you cannot in all honesty deny that all beings share certain qualities, emotion and thought being common to all conscious beings and language merely a form of communication that we take in a different direction. It is remarkable that wild animals understand and communicate not only with us but with other species. Read it, it is certainly worthwhile. I only wish some of these trendy film makers would care more about the animals they exploit for gain as well as knowledge. All lives matter, all beings are connected by the miracles of DNA and evolution and all share the field phenomenon of consciousness. I have absolutely no doubt of that. In time, I hope all anthropocentric thinkers will learn to accept this.
April 2, 2025
Second book in the Elsa series, and what a wonderful story this was, one i would cherish for ever!!. And to think I randomly stumbled upon this book at a second hand book store, wow :')
*Born free is the story of Elsa
*Living free is the story of Elsa and her three cubs
An absorbing story which gives a genuine feeling of living in an African bush, with its multitude of fauna all as background to the main interest of the book, it's account of the psychological development of Elsa's pride.
Elsa is hand raised and reintroduced into the wild, where she leads a wild life but keeping in touch with adamsons, and her cubs fathered by a wild lion are truly wild.
when joy interprets an animal's gesture and posture with the aid of psychological terms, anger, curiosity or jealousy, People might accuse anthropomorphism, but this is not so, true ethnologist must be evolution minded, after all, we are mammal our selves and share similar emotions, in a way it's devising yardsticks from the familiar to make sense of the unfamiliar.
Most remarkable of all is the fact that a human being has succeeded in eliciting in a lioness a psychological organisation which basically resembles a human personality.
Adamsons are in a unique position to observe these lions behaviour that is impossible to observe in a fully domesticated or a fully wild lion.
We see the three cubs develop their own unique personalities, how Elsa smartly balances the cubs wild nature at the same time teaching them what these human friends mean to her, Elsa's territorial struggle with other lions, their 6th sense of crocodiles in river, incidents with poachers.
I have read and watched so much about lions all my life, yet after this book i feel I have a new understanding of them.
Elsa lived and died before I was born but at the end of this book, i feel a connection to her across space and time, and she will always be remembered:')
PS: theres a movie of Born free which won two academy awards, apparently she was a huge deal in the 70's, influencing the perception of millions of people about wildlife
*Born free is the story of Elsa
*Living free is the story of Elsa and her three cubs
An absorbing story which gives a genuine feeling of living in an African bush, with its multitude of fauna all as background to the main interest of the book, it's account of the psychological development of Elsa's pride.
Elsa is hand raised and reintroduced into the wild, where she leads a wild life but keeping in touch with adamsons, and her cubs fathered by a wild lion are truly wild.
when joy interprets an animal's gesture and posture with the aid of psychological terms, anger, curiosity or jealousy, People might accuse anthropomorphism, but this is not so, true ethnologist must be evolution minded, after all, we are mammal our selves and share similar emotions, in a way it's devising yardsticks from the familiar to make sense of the unfamiliar.
Most remarkable of all is the fact that a human being has succeeded in eliciting in a lioness a psychological organisation which basically resembles a human personality.
Adamsons are in a unique position to observe these lions behaviour that is impossible to observe in a fully domesticated or a fully wild lion.
We see the three cubs develop their own unique personalities, how Elsa smartly balances the cubs wild nature at the same time teaching them what these human friends mean to her, Elsa's territorial struggle with other lions, their 6th sense of crocodiles in river, incidents with poachers.
I have read and watched so much about lions all my life, yet after this book i feel I have a new understanding of them.
Elsa lived and died before I was born but at the end of this book, i feel a connection to her across space and time, and she will always be remembered:')
PS: theres a movie of Born free which won two academy awards, apparently she was a huge deal in the 70's, influencing the perception of millions of people about wildlife
May 26, 2023
Kirja jatkaa Elsan tarinaa ja seuraa nyt myös sen pentujen elämää.
Kirja oli monella tapaa parannus aiempaan ja nyt eläinten kokemuksista tuli paljon pieniä, lyhyitä tarinoita luettavaksi. Kirjassa kerrottiin paljon myös pariskunnan työstä eli salametsästäjien torjunnasta.
Itseäni häiritsi kirjassa kuitenkin tavattoman paljon se, miten tyhmästi leijonia kohtaan käyttäydyttiin: vaikka tässä korostettiin jatkuvasti, miten leijonien tahdottiin pysyvän villeinä, niitä ruokittiin koko ajan leirin läheisyydessä ja ruokana olivat vuohet eli kotieläimet. Leijonat jäivät monella tapaa riippuvaisiksi ihmisistä minkä lisäksi ne tietysti oppivat metsästämään vuohia, koska yhdistivät ne ruuaksi. Olisin ymmärtänyt, jos leijonille olisi joka kerta teurastettu vain yksi vuohi, jotta ne saisivat pahimman nälkänsä tyydytettyä, mutta sen sijaan niille saatettiin syöttää useita vuohia ja myös teurastaa uusia, jos vanhemman saaliin liha ei kelvannut niille. Vuohia tuotiin myös silloin, kun leijonat eivät olleet nälkäisiä... En näe tällaisessa ruokinnassa oikeastaan muuta logiikkaa kuin leijonien pitämisen lemmikkeinä.
Lisäksi kirjassa häiritsi se, että leijonia ei jätetty rauhaan. Kun emo piilotti pennut, pentuja ryhdyttiin etsimään oikein urakalla eikä missään vaiheessa ajateltu, että se saattoi olla ihan luonnollista, kun vastasyntyneistä pennuista oli kyse. Mitähän tässä oli edes ajateltu tehdä, jos pennut olisi löydetty henkihieverissä? Emo puolusti reviiriään huomattavan paljon jo silloin, kun pennut olivat piilossa, joten jos joku olisi koskenut pentuihin, olisi se varmasti tullut väliin tai jopa hyökännyt.
Ihan herttainen tarina taas luettavaksi, mutta ihmishahmojen täysi irtaantuminen luonnosta sekä paikallisväestöstä häiritsi paljon.
Kirja oli monella tapaa parannus aiempaan ja nyt eläinten kokemuksista tuli paljon pieniä, lyhyitä tarinoita luettavaksi. Kirjassa kerrottiin paljon myös pariskunnan työstä eli salametsästäjien torjunnasta.
Itseäni häiritsi kirjassa kuitenkin tavattoman paljon se, miten tyhmästi leijonia kohtaan käyttäydyttiin: vaikka tässä korostettiin jatkuvasti, miten leijonien tahdottiin pysyvän villeinä, niitä ruokittiin koko ajan leirin läheisyydessä ja ruokana olivat vuohet eli kotieläimet. Leijonat jäivät monella tapaa riippuvaisiksi ihmisistä minkä lisäksi ne tietysti oppivat metsästämään vuohia, koska yhdistivät ne ruuaksi. Olisin ymmärtänyt, jos leijonille olisi joka kerta teurastettu vain yksi vuohi, jotta ne saisivat pahimman nälkänsä tyydytettyä, mutta sen sijaan niille saatettiin syöttää useita vuohia ja myös teurastaa uusia, jos vanhemman saaliin liha ei kelvannut niille. Vuohia tuotiin myös silloin, kun leijonat eivät olleet nälkäisiä... En näe tällaisessa ruokinnassa oikeastaan muuta logiikkaa kuin leijonien pitämisen lemmikkeinä.
Lisäksi kirjassa häiritsi se, että leijonia ei jätetty rauhaan. Kun emo piilotti pennut, pentuja ryhdyttiin etsimään oikein urakalla eikä missään vaiheessa ajateltu, että se saattoi olla ihan luonnollista, kun vastasyntyneistä pennuista oli kyse. Mitähän tässä oli edes ajateltu tehdä, jos pennut olisi löydetty henkihieverissä? Emo puolusti reviiriään huomattavan paljon jo silloin, kun pennut olivat piilossa, joten jos joku olisi koskenut pentuihin, olisi se varmasti tullut väliin tai jopa hyökännyt.
Ihan herttainen tarina taas luettavaksi, mutta ihmishahmojen täysi irtaantuminen luonnosta sekä paikallisväestöstä häiritsi paljon.
June 13, 2023
I gave this book to my mother for her birthday when I was ten years old, no doubt purchasing it at the school book fair. Now, mumblety years later, having inherited it and wondering what my poor mother had done to deserve such a unlikely gift from me, I decided to read it.
To my surprise, I enjoyed it very much. Of course, Elsa, the orphaned lioness who was raised by humans and restored to the wild, has lost much of her celebrity status these many years later, but the straightforward story of as told by a game warden's wife is still engaging.
To my surprise, I enjoyed it very much. Of course, Elsa, the orphaned lioness who was raised by humans and restored to the wild, has lost much of her celebrity status these many years later, but the straightforward story of as told by a game warden's wife is still engaging.
April 27, 2024
Book two about Elsa, the lioness now raising three cubs in 1960 wild in the Kenyan bush but also connected with a human couple. SO interesting. The emphasis of this book is how they are both wild and able to interact with (a few specific) humans safely, but I kept thinking “but you were feeding them.” Wouldn’t ANY animal with access to an easy, free food source take advantage of it and keep returning?
This book is so different than what I usually read, and I especially enjoyed reading while snuggling with my cat.
This book is so different than what I usually read, and I especially enjoyed reading while snuggling with my cat.
August 5, 2025
This was a good sequel to the born free book, however it disappointed in that she didn’t resolve the question of what happens to Elsa’s cubs by the end of the book.
In spite of that ( authors of true stories can’t pick their endings) The book is well written and gives a great insight into life in Eastern Africa during the 1950s and 1960s. The second book highlights the difficulties and struggles of working with bureaucracy in Africa, well surviving in what was a fairly primitive environment.
The book is definitely worth a ride after reading the first book of the series.
In spite of that ( authors of true stories can’t pick their endings) The book is well written and gives a great insight into life in Eastern Africa during the 1950s and 1960s. The second book highlights the difficulties and struggles of working with bureaucracy in Africa, well surviving in what was a fairly primitive environment.
The book is definitely worth a ride after reading the first book of the series.
May 17, 2020
It was interesting to read how wild lions interacted with each other and humans. However, they were very lucky that no one seems ever to have been hurt, and it's unsurprising that the cubs were later attacking goats and had to be removed hundreds of miles away. Interfering and feeding wild animals doesn't tend to work out well, either for humans or for the animals (even if people think they're helping them by giving them food).
November 24, 2022
This continues the story begun in Born Free with Elsa living in the wild. At the beginning of this, three cubs are born and the book follows the first year of the cubs lives. It is interesting to see the cubs various personalities walking the line between becoming tame and remaining completely wild.
Thoroughly enjoyed this as much as the first.
Thoroughly enjoyed this as much as the first.
September 26, 2023
Attention, l'histoire est assez grave, même si l'envie de savoir ce que sont devenus Elsa et ses petits motive la lecture !
D'après le commentaire d'une lectrice le troisième livre qui raconte l'histoire des lionceaux est mieux. Donc à suivre...
D'après le commentaire d'une lectrice le troisième livre qui raconte l'histoire des lionceaux est mieux. Donc à suivre...
July 7, 2020
I've really enjoyed my visit with Elsa and her cubs. Humouress and descriptive, I found it easy to imagine myself there
April 24, 2024
What a wonderful look at this pride
July 3, 2025
Great read. Enjoyed it.
February 1, 2016
Review: Living Free by Joy Adamson.
This is the second book to Joy Adamson 19s trilogy and it was as good as the first, 1CBorn Free 1D. I can 19t wait to read the third book, 1CForever Free 1D. This book starts off where the first book ended. Elsa is a lioness of two worlds. She has the interaction with George and Joy Adamson 19s who raised her from a cub in a wild environment preserve and when they thought Elsa was ready they successfully moved her to a natural wild habitat completely miles away from their camp and watch her for a short time to see if she would survive and find a mate.
The second book starts as George and Joy Adamson go back after sometime to see how Elsa is faring even though they felt they shouldn 19t get involved in Elsa 19s life extensively as they had before. It didn 19t take long for them to notice that Elsa had a mate, which George just happened to see them couple together so they left and decided to come back at another time to see if Elsa had cubs. When they returned they set up a portable shelter to stay a few day and see if they could found Elsa and possibly a cub or two. After some time Elsa did greet them with affection and Joy noticed Elsa had teats but they were tucked in and no milk was present. Joy thought this was odd and kept checking Elsa because if she did have cubs how was she nursing them. Elsa was mysteries when she went away from their tent at different intervals and when they went looking for her she would not come to them. Even when Elsa was out walking with George and Joy she kept changing the route away from different areas to keep her cubs hidden. Mostly in the evenings they would hear her mate call for her and sometimes she left their camp and went to him or she would just ignore him.
As time went on and a few trips back to where Elsa lived they finally knew she did have cubs but not how many. George had found where Elsa was hiding them while Joy kept Elsa distracted, but he only seen two. Plus, in the meantime Joy had found out that a Lioness teats only hung down when she is filled with milk so Elsa must have nursed the cubs just before coming out and greeting the Adamson 18s. Then the day came when Elsa finally was seen out with her three cubs on the ridge of the big rock where she liked to lay in the sun. She had given birth to one female and two males. They named them Jespah, Gopa, and Little Elsa. There are many episodes of adventure, play time, lessons to learn, photographing, feeding events, swimming in the river, for the cubs, Elsa and the Adamson 19s.
However, there were sad times when Elsa would have to defend herself and the cubs against other predators (animal and poachers) of the wilderness. Elsa was scratched, bitten, mauled and strayed away with her cubs for days at a time. Once Elsa and the cubs were away for at least two weeks, but after much worry from Joy, she managed to come back to the tents and Joy would take care of Elsa 19s wounds. Even though they claimed not to get to involved again Elsa and the cubs brought love and happiness to George, Joy and I 26.
This is the second book to Joy Adamson 19s trilogy and it was as good as the first, 1CBorn Free 1D. I can 19t wait to read the third book, 1CForever Free 1D. This book starts off where the first book ended. Elsa is a lioness of two worlds. She has the interaction with George and Joy Adamson 19s who raised her from a cub in a wild environment preserve and when they thought Elsa was ready they successfully moved her to a natural wild habitat completely miles away from their camp and watch her for a short time to see if she would survive and find a mate.
The second book starts as George and Joy Adamson go back after sometime to see how Elsa is faring even though they felt they shouldn 19t get involved in Elsa 19s life extensively as they had before. It didn 19t take long for them to notice that Elsa had a mate, which George just happened to see them couple together so they left and decided to come back at another time to see if Elsa had cubs. When they returned they set up a portable shelter to stay a few day and see if they could found Elsa and possibly a cub or two. After some time Elsa did greet them with affection and Joy noticed Elsa had teats but they were tucked in and no milk was present. Joy thought this was odd and kept checking Elsa because if she did have cubs how was she nursing them. Elsa was mysteries when she went away from their tent at different intervals and when they went looking for her she would not come to them. Even when Elsa was out walking with George and Joy she kept changing the route away from different areas to keep her cubs hidden. Mostly in the evenings they would hear her mate call for her and sometimes she left their camp and went to him or she would just ignore him.
As time went on and a few trips back to where Elsa lived they finally knew she did have cubs but not how many. George had found where Elsa was hiding them while Joy kept Elsa distracted, but he only seen two. Plus, in the meantime Joy had found out that a Lioness teats only hung down when she is filled with milk so Elsa must have nursed the cubs just before coming out and greeting the Adamson 18s. Then the day came when Elsa finally was seen out with her three cubs on the ridge of the big rock where she liked to lay in the sun. She had given birth to one female and two males. They named them Jespah, Gopa, and Little Elsa. There are many episodes of adventure, play time, lessons to learn, photographing, feeding events, swimming in the river, for the cubs, Elsa and the Adamson 19s.
However, there were sad times when Elsa would have to defend herself and the cubs against other predators (animal and poachers) of the wilderness. Elsa was scratched, bitten, mauled and strayed away with her cubs for days at a time. Once Elsa and the cubs were away for at least two weeks, but after much worry from Joy, she managed to come back to the tents and Joy would take care of Elsa 19s wounds. Even though they claimed not to get to involved again Elsa and the cubs brought love and happiness to George, Joy and I 26.
March 8, 2008
What an absolutely wonderful book! This is one of my all-time favorites, just as it will be for anyone who loves animals in general, and cats - including great cats - in particular! The second book in Joy Adamson's "Free Trilogy" (preceded by her most famous novel, "Born Free"; followed by "Forever Free"), "Living Free" picks up where "Born Free" left off, with the newly-freed lioness Elsa expecting her first cubs, who will be born in the wild. Quite unlike the entirely fabricated epilogue seen in the movie version, Joy and George Adamson not only "touched" the cubs, but went out of their way to try to befriend them as far as the cubs' basically natural upbringing would allow. The Adamsons' efforts to "naturally tame" the three cubs produced three completely different results: we meet the lovable and intelligent Jespah, already designated the future king of the pride, who follows his mother's lead when interacting with the Adamsons - becoming tame enough to be stroked, steal roasted chickens, playfully demolish Joy's precious inflatable cushion, and happily rummage through the camp's supply of bottled beverages just to hear them clink; his brother Gopa, just as intelligent, but naturally shy and much more cautious of humans - although gratefully willing to take refuge on a camp bed in the Adamsons' tent during a savage thunderstorm; and Little Elsa, a miniature of her beautiful mother but also the "wildest" of the three, whose one concession to Joy's touch was born of sheer desperation: to remove stinging blowflies from her skin. Together, Elsa and her cubs provide the Adamsons with a rare privilege: a glimpse at the first year in the life of a wild lion. Totally enchanting, and altogether - no pun intended - captivating! Don't miss it!
April 24, 2015
In the book Living free” by Joy Adamson, a lioness and her cubs are documented as they interact with Joy. It is a captivating novel, and one that I enjoy more than most. I read this book because normally, I read a good amount of fiction novels and not a lot of non fiction. I also read this because of all of the good reviews it has. The characters are quite humorous, as I’m guessing they are in real life.
It is mainly about a lioness raising her cubs, and the day to day life in africa. The setting, or course, is hot and dusty, as it is the african savannah. The main conflict is Joy trying to get the lionesses cubs to trust her, as well as trying to protect them. I enjoyed the mood portrayed in the story, as well as the irony and character development. It made for an amazing story, and added to the already engaging plot line.
The ending was both satisfying, and yet gave you a slight cliff hanger. It was an amazing book, and had some really good stories that were funny, sad, or nerve wrenching. In the end, the cubs grew up strong and began to stop hanging around Joy and the camp. It was sad, but at the same time I’m happy everything worked out in the end. My favorite part is in the beginning, when they find out Elsie had cubs. It was really sweet and heartwarming.
This book reminds me of born free, because it is the sequel. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves animals, or anyone in need of a good book. The content is not extremely difficult to read, but not extremely easy either. It is, in conclusion, and amazing book that I will read again! I think that everyone will enjoy it no matter what age or gender
It is mainly about a lioness raising her cubs, and the day to day life in africa. The setting, or course, is hot and dusty, as it is the african savannah. The main conflict is Joy trying to get the lionesses cubs to trust her, as well as trying to protect them. I enjoyed the mood portrayed in the story, as well as the irony and character development. It made for an amazing story, and added to the already engaging plot line.
The ending was both satisfying, and yet gave you a slight cliff hanger. It was an amazing book, and had some really good stories that were funny, sad, or nerve wrenching. In the end, the cubs grew up strong and began to stop hanging around Joy and the camp. It was sad, but at the same time I’m happy everything worked out in the end. My favorite part is in the beginning, when they find out Elsie had cubs. It was really sweet and heartwarming.
This book reminds me of born free, because it is the sequel. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves animals, or anyone in need of a good book. The content is not extremely difficult to read, but not extremely easy either. It is, in conclusion, and amazing book that I will read again! I think that everyone will enjoy it no matter what age or gender
July 8, 2019
Living Free continues the story of Elsa. Though the Adamsons resolved to allow Elsa to live a free life, their attachment to her, and hers to theirs, is too strong for them to fully let go. They continue their post in Africa, with George Adamson as Senior Game Warden. As such, they still keep a camp in the area where Elsa was turned loose, and they stay in touch with her as she becomes a mother. Peppered with black and white photographs of Elsa and her cubs, the diary-like narrative shares the day-to-day routines of an almost but not quite wild lioness and her brood.
As a child this was a five star book for me. The writing is interesting and the story is larger than life. As an adult, in these times, I question how closely Joy and George insisted on staying to Elsa, and how familiar they allowed her cubs to become with a human camp. That took away a star for me, unfortunately, but I still think this was groundbreaking work in understanding these big cats. And perhaps the couple was right in assuming Elsa couldn't make it without their help. Certainly it's a unique relationship that brought satisfaction to both sides.
As a child this was a five star book for me. The writing is interesting and the story is larger than life. As an adult, in these times, I question how closely Joy and George insisted on staying to Elsa, and how familiar they allowed her cubs to become with a human camp. That took away a star for me, unfortunately, but I still think this was groundbreaking work in understanding these big cats. And perhaps the couple was right in assuming Elsa couldn't make it without their help. Certainly it's a unique relationship that brought satisfaction to both sides.
January 23, 2016
This is an interesting book of Joy who lives in the bush in Africa with her husband George and they raised a lioness there then it went off and mated and brought the cubs back to their camp for a year. It has endearing photos of the lioness, Elsa, and her three cubs Jespah, Gopa, and little Elsa. This is what many of us would like to do, to live in Africa away from civilization amidst nature. But I think again, could I leave what I have to do this extraordinary thing of living out in the wild.
I received this book from my dad 50 years ago and for some unknown reason had not read it until now. I am ecstatic to have finally read it. I have said to myself several times I was going to read it and never did. In fact I started a couple of times and fell through.
A life in the wild for a lion is fraught with dangers. Many times Elsa got in fights with other lions and would show up at the camp with cuts and sores. Finally she died of a parasitic disease. Her cubs were transferred to another national park -- Serengeti. Poaching was also a danger from the local tribesmen.
I received this book from my dad 50 years ago and for some unknown reason had not read it until now. I am ecstatic to have finally read it. I have said to myself several times I was going to read it and never did. In fact I started a couple of times and fell through.
A life in the wild for a lion is fraught with dangers. Many times Elsa got in fights with other lions and would show up at the camp with cuts and sores. Finally she died of a parasitic disease. Her cubs were transferred to another national park -- Serengeti. Poaching was also a danger from the local tribesmen.
March 10, 2020
Living Free is Part Two of the story, examines the birth of Elsa's cubs, and follows the first year of their lives. Another wonderful tale about this magnificent lioness that is absolutely touching. The true story of Elsa's life and the life of her cubs is by far one of the most fascinating stories of wildlife (and nature) that I have ever read. I admire the Adamson's for their devotion to this lioness and her three cubs. I envy the love the lioness showed towards the couple. How amazing must it have been to have had such an up-close and personal relationship with a wild animal in the African bush?! Allowing humans so close to her family, Elsa's trust in man is almost unbelievable. A truly astonishing story that will always remain with me.
December 12, 2012
Amazing story, but I wouldn't say she's a good writer. Very choppy, not enough flow. It completely relies on content and the inspirational true tale of her lioness friend. She just doesn't add much quirk, fun or humour when it could so easily be done. Gerald Durrel is still king in the field of nature/wildlife writing. I'd give it a lower rating...but I love the story too much. It is an amazing thing to read about.
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