Death in the Silent Places

This book was my first encounter with Peter Hathaway Capstick, but it won't be my last. It contains a series of short stories about dangerous game hunting (and World War I scouting) in Africa, India, South America, and Ceylon. The stories Capstick tells are primarily about the exploits of other famous hunters, although he interjects annecdotes about personal experiences and also tells the tale of his own hunting of a cape buffalo with a spear. One of the most amazing aspects of this book is that Capstick brings to life the reality that, in the not-so-distant past, people in various parts of the world lived in actual, realistic fear of being killed by large, predatory, animinals, including lions, jaguars, and leopards. That might come as a surprise to some, as might the awesome power and cunning possessed by those animals. This book is a must read for anyone who is even remotely interested in exotic places, big-game hunting, adventure, and the history of the British Empire a hundred years ago. I will be recommending it to my father, brother, and father-in-law, as all of them will enjoy it.

Peter Capstick's "Death in the Silent Places" presents a (thankfully) fresh look at six stories of yesteryear outdoor struggles that rival any modern day Apollo 13 or Kon Tiki adventures. As with all such events, Man is definitely the underdog but whether he survives or perishes, the record displays incredible skill, incredible courage, incredible determination against long odds. The men Capstick writes of here are the Lance Armstrongs and real-life Luke Skywalkers of another generation in places and times where "chutzpah" was a MINNIMUM requirement. Thankfully, Capstick retells these adventures without the stinted politics of the original accounts and thus presents an accurate experience of the raw nerve-jangling moments of the events for the reader instead of just some stodgy portrait from the Past. With Peter Capstick being a talented writer as well as the erudite historian of this genre he is, you'll not find anything more authorative or entertaining on these real-life thrillers than "Death in the Silent Places".

Capsticks books are always a delight and this is no exception. Instead of his usual "first person" yarns, this is a look at some of the most famous and gripping hunts of all times- hunting man eaters. The book covers a number of famous hunts, and the standout really is the famous Man eaters of Tsavo (imortalised in "the Ghost and the Darkness" film). The stories by themselves would be gripping enough, but with Capsticks absolutly delightful style- he would make a Motorcycle repair manual amusing- the book is a gem. I read it in two days, and have read it twice since.Most highly recommended.Grade: A+

Capstick does it once again. This book takes you along with some of the most famous and infamous hunters ever to walk the planet. He starts with John Patterson, the killer of the Maneaters of Tsavo. Find out just how close the lions came to winning! Next is Chauncey H. Stigand a pig iron tough SOB who was a military master, and a big game hunter. Find out how tough he was when a rhino ripped of his left pectoral and he walked unaided 10-15 miles before lying down! Then meet P.J. Pretorious, the one man wrecking crew of the German war machine in East Africa. He did every thing but shoot the guns to sink the Konigsberg the famed German was ship, as well as capturing an entire German column. Next is Sasha Seimel, perhaps the only white man ever to hunt jaguar with only a spear! Read how he almost lost to a man-killing jaguar. Then meet W.D.M. "Karamojo" Bell, the finest elephant who ever lived. Bell used rifles so small some people would not even use them for deer. Read how he avoid being killed or poisoned by natives, and how he could shoot birds from the air with his rifle. Next up is Jim Corbett, the finest hunter of maneating tigers and leopards ever to walk. Discover the hidden tricks of animal call and signs. See how close Corbett comes to ending up as a statistic. In the final chapter, Sir Samuel Baker gives you and idea of how tough Asian Water Buffalo are in "The Charge of Sixpence". Harry Wolhuter proves a man can kill an adult male lion with a knife! And, Capstick goes a buffalo spearing, not the best of ideas.

Peter Hathaway Capstick is without a doubt the author of the most exciting books on hunting in Africa (and around the world). *Death in the Silent Places* is one of his best books. Written in the terse, familiar style for which he is famous, the book covers the lives of several famous hunters. Capstick definitely has a feel for excitement; his retelling of Patterson's encounters at Tsavo was one of the most electrifying stories I have ever read. Capstick's prose will make you laugh with delight and cringe with terror--the only author I have ever read who makes you feel like you're right there with his subjects, holding your own 4-gauge elephant gun and sweating under the desert sun