Customer Reviews

Ruark Remembered: By the Man Who Knew Him Best

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

 

 

I am a fan of Robert Ruark's writings. Seven years ago, I read "Horn of the Hunter" before embarking on an African hunting safari. I very much enjoyed the book and proceeded to read in rapid succession "Something of Value," "Uhuru," "Use Enough Gun," "Poor No More," "The Honey Badger," "The Old Man and the Boy," "Robert Ruark's Africa," "The Lost Classics" and "A View From a Tall Hill: Robert Ruark in Africa."

Many of Ruark's writings such as "Horn of the Hunter" are stories of his own hunts and experiences. And much of his fiction is semi-autobiographical, such as the main characters in "Poor No More" and "The Honey Badger." But one wonders to what extent Ruark has embellished. This book is great because the author, having worked as Ruark's secretary for twelve years, knew him well. This is a first hand account of Ruark's life including his great drive and his destructive faults.

The book "A View From a Tall Hill: Robert Ruark in Africa" is another recent biographical account, although it focuses mostly on Ruark's hunting and other adventures in Africa. It is also a good read for a Ruark fan. Its author, Terry Wieland is a hunter and gun aficionado, which gives him experience and insight that Ritchie does not have. But Wieland did not know Ruark, which is Ritchie's advantage. Both books are good and will be enjoyed by Ruark fans.

If you're a Ruark fan this is a must read. It's one you'll read again and again as you gain insight into the character of the man - warts and all.

While Alan Ritchie is no Boswell, he does present a full picture of the man, Robert Ruark. Ruark appeared to be a man larger than life and the attempt to capture the full man, reduced from legend, to appear slightly tarnished, and still accurate, seems a bit contrived. We see Ruark as a nouveau riche, trying desperately to be cool, but full of the shortcomings of an alcholic. While he is interesting, he is not enviable, while he is a big game hunter and an American sportsman, he is an expatriate, concerned with Africa's letdowns to the sportsman, not her independence and freedom. And while he remains married for twenty five years or more, his marital relationship is fraught with holes, infidelities, mysognisim and endless battles. Ritchie's attempt to show the man's numrerous positive traits in this ambience of deception and contrast smacks of gloss, not of a hard shine. It is difficult for an employee who is grateful and subservient to display true objectivity to a boss who is more powerful and thankful for Ritchie's protecting his indescretions and foibles. If Ritchie felt compelled to cover things up in real life, he was even moreso in his employer's death. We beg to find out who was really the culprit in the gutting of the Spanish house, Ruark's mistresses, his wife, or Ruark's own attempt to sabotage his wife's future. He seems capable of anything against her. Ritchie's protection of her, is in essence a complete subservience, because while he owes her nothing, it is apparent he is completely sympathetic to her. And while sympathetic, he seems unable to reach an objectivity necessary to revealing her and her husband.
I feel as if Ritchie lifted a veil and showed us how this thing might be played out, but not the veil that shows the TV drama of how it actually was. Could it be his subservience, his British tightmouthed allegience, or something akin to closet homosexual worship that keeps his opinions and the truth so far from us.
As much as I respect the editor, I find it difficult to praise him as I always find spelling errors and other mishaps in his work. This book is no exception.

I was overjoyed to read this book and in finding out more about a wonderful writer. The best part is the book is written by Mr. Ritchie. Alan Ritchie was the personal secretary or Robert Ruark for twelve years and was present in both business and the personal affairs of Mr. and Mrs. Ruark. The "introduction" of the book is written by the outdoor writer and editor of this book Jim Casada and is most important in providing to the reader with the "who is" Mr. Ritchie, the relationship to Mr. Ruark and what and how this book even made it into print. Another great addition to this book is provided by Harry Selby the professional hunter, safari guide and friend to Mr. Ruark. Mr. Shelby offers a personal reflection how he reads "Bob Ruark" the man on safari and in the friendship between them that developed in time.
To read a book written by Ruark is one thing to read a book about Ruark's life and the times that shaped his experiences is another, so to the individual wanting to met the author I recommend this book! The real bonus for me in the book is the insight to the time before syndicated TV when the news and views of the world were paper bound and the relationship of Ruark and Hemingway in each man life. I was wonderfully surprised!

Informative but tendency to rehash previous chapters. Too often felt you were rereading previous chapeters.