A Man Called Lion: The Life and Times of John Howard Pondoro Taylor [Hardcover]

Peter Hathaway Capstick (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 27, 2002

This is the story of one of Africa's most intriguing characters, John Taylor. Taylor was well known for his incredible knowledge of large-caliber African ammunition and rifles, and his entire story is told in fascinating detail. A black sheep born into a wealthy Irish family, he ended up one of the most notorious South African ivory poachers. This book is a culmination of over ten years of research into the life of this mysterious man.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

John Taylor is well known to just about anybody interested in firearms or African hunting. This is the first complete biography of this very controversial character, written by Peter H. Capstick with research by Brian Marsh, an old Taylor acquaintance. Capstick tracks the life of this enigmatic figure from his early days in Ireland to the day he left Nyasaland in disgrace and in fear of arrest some forty years later. Also included are his wretched, depressing final years in London. Nothing is held back-whether it be his smuggling affair in Canada, ivory poaching, refusal to pay his bills, his tall tales and impressive escapes, or his homosexuality. This is Capstick at his very best on one of Africa's most intriguing characters. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 260 pages
• Publisher: Safari Press; 5th Edition edition (November 27, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1571572724
• ISBN-13: 978-1571572721
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,175,305 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars You have to be a real fan to enjoy this., August 8, 2001

By 

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

This review is from: A Man Called Lion: The Life and Times of John Howard Pondoro Taylor (Hardcover)

Don't get me wrong here, I'm one of the biggest Capstick fans there is but what I've seen from him is this: He either writes a nail biting account of personal or researched adventures or he rambles on about some boring life chronology spiced up by only a few tidbits of adventure or peril. Thats the way parts of Silent Places is and thats how this book is. If you are a fan of John Taylor or are interested in getting a history lesson of the everyday life of someone like him, then you'll probably enjoy this book.

Me, I'm a fan of the man who writes about the true life (or not)near death experiences of Corbett, Patterson, and himself in exotic bush locations in a time long since forgotten.

I knew what I was getting into when I bought this book but, hey, it's a Capstick book and I have to read 'em all. It's not a terrible book but it's definitely not Long Grass or Dark Continent.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A man called Lion, February 14, 2000

By 

Jose Sierra "Sierra" (Ft Lauderdale, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Man Called Lion: The Life and Times of John Howard Pondoro Taylor (Hardcover)

I have enjoyed Capstick other stories in the past, but this one bored me to tears. It is nought but a rehash of "Pondoro" with some extra information from casual acquaintances of the Irish writer/hunter. The fact that Taylor was a homosexual didn't deserve chapter after chapter since, despite Capstick's analysis, his more serious failings were a total disregard for the Law and an inability to hold on to his pennies. That brought about his downfall, not his preference for the same sex. John Taylor deserved a better epitaph than this book.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Man Called Lion, December 30, 1999

By 

Jeannie Hansohn (Washington D.C.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Man Called Lion: The Life and Times of John Howard Pondoro Taylor (Hardcover)

This is a good book for any fans of John Howard pondoro" Taylor. Capstick has given us another look at Taylor through the people who knew him.this book reinforces Taylors writtings and tells some great stories of another African hunter,so if you are a fan of Capstick you won't be disapointed while reading this book.