Death in the Dark Continent [Hardcover]

Peter H. Capstick (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 15, 1983

Critically acclaimed as a master of adventure writing for Death in the Long Grass and Death in the Silent Places, former professional hunter Peter Capstick takes us back to Africa to encounter the world's most dangerous big-game animals. After consulting African game experts and recalling his own experiences and those of his colleagues, Capstick has written chilling, authoritative accounts of hunting the five most dangerous killers on the African continent-- lion, leopard, elephant, Cape buffalo and rhinoceros.

The classic big-game animals are unmatched as a test of a hunter's skill and courage. With a command of exciting prose, Capstick brings us along on the chase. The warning snarl of a crouching lion, the swish of grass that reveals a leopard, the enraged scream of a wounded elephant, the cloud of dust that marks a herd of Cape buffalo, the earthshaking charge of a rhino are recreated in heart-stopping, nerve-racking detail. In Death in the Dark Continent, Capstick brings to life all the suspense, fear and exhilaration of stalking ferocious killers under primitive, savage conditions, with the ever present threat of death.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Few writers have matched Capstick's flair for describing the hunt...in gruesome, realistic terms...A page-turner that is absorbingly spine-tingling."--Publishers Weekly on Death in the Long Grass

"This book had me on the edge of my seat...297 pages of spine-tingling yarns."--New York Times Book Review on Death in the Long Grass

"Thrilling and suspenseful reading...spine-tingling hunting adventure...a 4-Star book of 3-continent adventure."--The Outdoor Journal on Death in the Silent Places

From the Publisher

5 1.5-hour cassettes --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press; 1 edition (May 15, 1983)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312186150
• ISBN-13: 978-0312186159
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #183,478 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

After leaving Wall Street, the New Jersey native hunted in Central and South America before going to Africa, where he held pro hunting licenses in Ethiopia, Zambia, Botswana, and Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). Capstick has also served in that most perilous of trades-- Elephant and Buffalo Cropping Officer.Peter Capstick has long made his home in Africa, the source of his inspiration.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Liked It Much More Than I Thought I Would, August 24, 2001

By 

Doc Sarvis - See all my reviews

This review is from: Death in the Dark Continent (Hardcover)

I bought this book at a local library fund-raiser, thinking I'd give it a try. I'm frankly not a hunter at all, and never will be (I'm actually much closer to the "preservationsits" he less-than-enthusiatically mentions throughout the book). But I must admit two things: First, I liked this book a whole lot more than I expected to; and second, it made me take another look at the relatinship between two environment-loving species who are traditionally enemies, namely Hunters and Conservationsists. This book captures what big-game hunting in colonial Africa must have really been like. Reading these exploits, it's impossible not to feel a certain mourning for what is now essentially a lost culture...killed off by political changes and a changed environmental ethos. Not that I'd turn the clock back if could...but wow, the experiences they had! The term "armchair adventure" was coined for books like this. Capstick was a great writer in the macho-pulp tradition, full of gore, danger, and bravavo. Even those who hate the idea of big-game hunting would find themselves caught up in the sheer awful majesty of it all. Throughout the book, I repeatedly found myself impressed with the obvious love of the land and wildlife that Capstick articulates. It realy underscored the common love of nature at the heart of all outdoorsy-people...something that's hard to see when that love is later manifested in forms as seemingly opposed to one another as big-game hunting and environmentalism. I doubt whether Capstick would have seen it that way, and I certainly don't think that most environmnetalists would see it that way either...but it's there if you look. Maybe that's a lesson for all of us.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Who's Hunting Who?, August 20, 2001

By 

M. Larsen "redneck_joe" (Pasadena, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Death in the Dark Continent (Hardcover)

Capstick reprises his role as master yarn-spinner of African legend in Dark Continent. The book is entirely devoted to Africa's "Big Five" dangerous game animals; lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo.

This hi-octane collection of stories ranks second only to "Long Grass" as my PHC favorite. It is completely FULL of experiences, legends and tales of close calls or catastrophes. Capstick goes chapter by chapter showing us without a doubt why each animal is included among Africa's Dangerous Game.

The stories themselves are heart pounding. Capstick can put you behind the sights and in the path of a charging rhino like no one else. You'll be bathed in sweat as he drags you through the thick Mopane scrubb searching for that man-eating leopard or gut-shot lion. Ol' Pete may be the most thrilling safari adventure writer of all time.

In addition to the danger, PHC also takes us back in history to the golden days of the White Hunter and relives the world record trophy hunts in each category. You'll hear about giant tuskers with 200lbs on each side, massive 10ft lions, and rhinos big enough to derail a train. I found this wonderful reading. It was like going to a world record trophy museum and getting a behind-the-scenes look at each hunt.

This book is a MUST for anyone who enjoys safari legend, hunting, or adventure. Highly recommended. I guess you could say I give it a "Big Five."

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A professional tells about big five, June 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Death in the Dark Continent (Hardcover)

The first book of Capstick, that I read. A wonderful style of story telling, that grips you and forces you to read it again and again. Capstick has an ability to increase the interest of reader, as compared to some big game hunters, who get more technical and factual. Although he will also tell you about guns, calibres, bullet weights, scientific knowledge, geography etc, but does not make it boring for reader. Capstick's opinion, about most dangerous game and his rating & analysis of big five, is no doubt, very true, and is confirmed by, what is written by the great white hunter J.A. Hunter. I fully appreciate author's efforts and research done, in finding the exact story of the world record elephant tusks.