Customer Reviews

Death In The Silent Places

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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+

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".

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

Death in the Silent places tells the stories of what a few good men and their rifles can do. True stories of men fighting for survival, and men trying to be the best that they can with their rifles. A great book and a must read, for any hunting enthusiast.

Like no one else, except for Ruark, Capstick again takes us on a journey through the true majesty that is Africa. If these tales were told by anyone of smaller stature, they would seem boastful. Coming from Cappie, they are like a day at the office. Those of us who were lucky enough to meet the man can vouch for his veracity, and mourn his passing

capstick weaves the tales of some of the great hunters in African history. It has the story of Henry Patterson, whom the recent movie with Val Kilmer was based on. It tells the stories of some of the worst maneaters Africa has had to offer

My review hits the middle of the gamut of earlier reviews. Not a hunter, with no desire to be one, I still thoroughly enjoyed the suspense and details of the stories recounted here. I also love the variety, from lions to German cruisers to man-eating leopards. (I must admit to being less favorably inclined to the story of Bell's elephant killing, as those huge animals were less of a threat to humans than the tigers, leopards, and lions described elsewhere.) Overall, these stories have significant WOW impact throughout and I found myself wondering how I would have fared in similar circumstances. My guess? Rather poorly!
However, I must agree with the negative comment about the oddly-placed humorous comments. Even as I smiled at some of them, I was struck by the incongruity of the words.
Still, I've recommended the book to many friends and don't hesitate to recommend it here, as well.

The titles of Peter Capstick's books appear very unimaginative and it seems that they are trying to cash in on the popularity of "Death in the long grass". This is not so. I have read three books by this author all of which have titles beginning with "death in....". Each book has something new to say and you do not get tired of reading about the almost countless adventures that Capstick recounts.
To write about "Death in silent places": it is a collection of short biographies of some of the greatest hunter-adventurers of the last century. Their adventures are described in a very racy style. No doubt Capstick was able to write so well because he could identify with them. Some stories have a racist tinge to them however. May be this is not surprising as the book is set in colonial times.
The author seems to be a great fan of W.D.M. "karamojo" Bell but this fellow appeared to me to be a great poacher and murderer of elephants. He may have had a very adventurous life but he was a criminal nevertheless.The other people described in this book also have something wrong with them (except Jim Corbett). I guess we all have our faults
In summation I can say that this book is definitely a very good read and does not have a boring passage in it.