Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa Ruark vs. Capstick

Hemingway turned words into manly prose.

Ruark turned words into gritty history.

Capstick turned words into gold.


I like Ruark's African inspired stuff the best. Easier reading and written for the common man, much like his newpaper and magazine articles. However, Capstick can spin a tale like no other; even if one gets a bit tired of ruptured sunrises and hemoraging sunsets. Hemingway is an aquired taste and difficult reading for me. It takes a number of readings for me to figure out what Papa is trying to tell me with his stories.

I like Boddington's stuff but it is nearly pure technical writing and very formula driven. Coogan is a fair comtempory writer of African hunting articles. Prothero's stuff turns me off. None of the current crop of outdoor writers has the internal demons to turn out great writing. Alcoholism and/or a bit on insanity seems to be the muse for the greats.

Perry

He really was. In some circles (not meaning here) it's fashionable to denigrate his "macho," for lack of a better word, interests, but he did live it and usually could write it. But when a hunting story is literature, then you've got something. You remember the story way better than I do. I just remember thinking, "He's got it. This is how it is."

Any of them make for enjoyable reading.

Griz,

You must have meet him early on, when he was right off the boat so to speak. I got to know in 1989 or 90. Silent did start with him(so I recall) in Rhodesia, and he took him to Zambia and payed him a salary out of pocket, partly to keep his hide intact.

Tony Sanchez Arino is one of the most dynamic characters I've met anywhere. Loves elephants. I'm sorry I've never hunted with him. I've been told he sings opera in camp. I wouldn't let my wife within 100 miles of him! A blue eyed lady killer.

Your lucky to have been with them both in the bush! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Toltecgriz, Hatari, PWN-

Thanks for the interesting anecdotes.

I enjoy reading all three of them, but as quality literature, Hemingway stands way, way ahead of the other two. I would put Ruark second and Capstick third. Some of PHC's stuff is very good, but other times he tries too hard, uses too many metaphors, overdoes descriptions, etc.

Another African writer worth reading is Wilbur Smith. He does not write purely hunting stories, but many of his novels contain accounts of hunts, and his love for Africa and his knowledge of its history and geography is readily apparent to any reader. If you haven't read any of his stuff, I strongly recommend him. Start with Elephant Song and you'll be hooked.

Another African writer worth reading is Wilbur Smith. He does not write purely hunting stories, but many of his novels contain accounts of hunts, and his love for Africa and his knowledge of its history and geography is readily apparent to any reader. If you haven't read any of his stuff, I strongly recommend him. Start with Elephant Song and you'll be hooked. [/quote]

I have a Wilbur Smith story for you. One year about 1994, Wilbur Smith was at the SCI Convention, signing books. I happened to walk by his booth, which was in a room connecting the convention halls, and noticed he was coming back from lunch to the booth. There were four or five people that had gathered around to get him to sign his books. I had just had one of my articles picked up in Tony Sanchez Arino compilation books, Hunting in Zambia. I wanted to get some writing pointers from a professional, so I took my place in line.

The first thing that struck me about this quiet, slightly built man, was his resemblance to the late actor Wally Cox. As I studied him conversing politely with his fans, I couldn't help but hearing a little song snippet in my head - 'There's no need to fear, Underdog is here!' (Voiced by Wally Cox).

My turn to approach Mr. Smith came, and we shook hands.

"Mr. Smith, I'm embarrassed to say I'm the only one here that hasn't read any of your stuff."

Wilbur studied my name tag and smiled.

"Funny, I've read yours!"

With that, you could have knocked me over with a feather. He had seen the compilation and remembered my story. With nobody behind me in line, we spoke for 5 or 10 minutes, and he gave me pointers and encouragement about writing, hunting, and traveling. I would be understating if I simply said that made my week. Unfortunately, I've done little writing since. Anyone who writes knows it eats hours off the clock like a cop gobbles donuts. Then you send it out to get it published. The remuneration you get doesn't cover the printer cartridges you had to buy printing the six dozen drafts you had to edit.

I've since read River God and hold Wilbur Smith in high esteem.

+1, what Rick said. I keep a copy of Hemingway on Hunting in my jeep. I often re-read some of the stories while watching a field with a rifle in the crook of my arm. Another of his dark stories that I care for is the Short Happy Life of Frances Macomber. His description of that incident with the wounded lion stands out as one of the greatest paintings of words I have read.

I'd have given anything to hang with him for a few hours.

SS

Hatari
Just to set the record straight Tony wasn't my hunter, although he did go out with us a couple of times. What you said about him is probably true, but you didn't hear it from me. Tony was between clients and didn't mind telling tales. Tony liked hunters, as opposed to people going on safari, if you follow me. He also liked to have a good time while hunting seriously. My kind of guy.

FWIT, I'm so glad to have found these writers many decades ago. And I'm so glad to have found a group of you that enjoys the same literature and outdoors that I have for more than 5 decades. Kudus to you all.

Teddy R. should be read as well but I find God given talent, although each being a little different in style, the same as musical instruments in a sympanthy. Listen carefully and you'll find your favorite sounds.

Although not African prose, Nash Buckingham and Steven Ambrose join, IMO, the ranks of Ruark, Capstick, and other writers who loved adventure. They all are just OUTSTANDING <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I give credit to PHC for motivating the modern African hunting industry after his books Safari and Death in the Long Grass. I think you can give him that credit without carping about his own hunting experience.

But Lordie how that dude could turn a phrase! Just reading his stuff is pure fun. It being Africa, so much the better. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

jim

Early on, I thought Capstick was the real deal and I truly loved his writing style. After going to Africa a couple of times, however, I came to realize he was "All hat and no cattle."

The PHs love him because lots of clients would never have thought of hunting in Africa were it not for Capstick's books. So we at least have to give him that.

Ruark was simply lovely. Here was a hunter taht was capable of learning. He was sensitive man and I love his words. It's too bad he was a drunk and it's too bad he didn't have the docs repair his body after his accident, but we cannot lament that; we can only love the legacy of writing he left behind.

Hemingway. Yup, read it all and I never did get him. The stuff I enjoyed most was in a paperback Dell book I bought during my seven years of college. The book was entitled something like, "The Unpublished Hemingway." It was great stuff, some of it from the days when he was a correspondant for the Toronto Star and some of it was essays and book starts (and not finished). I told one of my American Literature profs about it and he called BS...all of Hemingway's stuff was published by Schribner's, with no exception.

I went back to the book store where I bought it and the owner told me that it had been "recalled." Something about a suit between Schribner's and Dell. To make a long story short, when I showed the "impossible book" to my AmLit professor, he offered me $200 and an "A" for it.

I earned the "A" by myself and didn't sell Professor Scharbach the book (he was an azzhole). I still own the book and revisit it once in a while.

Wilbur Smith. Dave and I met him and visited for about an hour in the London Airport while we were on our way to Zimbabwe in 1984. Wonderful man (yeah, he looks like Wally Cox, but taller) and I've read everthing he's ever written. Excellent writer and one of my very favorites of all time. Whenever Smith has a new one, I simply cannot wait until it is published in paperback and invariably buy the hard-bound.

For real stuff, I totally enjoy F. C. Selous, Hunter and, especially, Samual White Baker. Baker is THE MAN; a life well lived.

Steve

Another vote for PHC as #1 writer (whether fiction or "Faction") its real good.

BMT

DZ friend-

Well CapS was certainly the wordsmith mucho hot air or not while Papa surely wrote literature. I'm gonna make it a point to look up Wilbur Smith; while I've read all the "Africa boys" including the old ones, I'll admit to not having heard of him.

I have a feeling CapS would have been a very likable fellow in camp, regardless of any real world competency or lack thereof. And I do believe he sort of resurrected the safari.

My two favorite stories though - by Hemingway - and one has been mentioned before is "MaComber" - oh man, but there is another whose title has seeped out of my increasingly porous mind. But it's about a guy in the bush who scratches his leg on a thorn bush, develops gangrene and ...... I'm sorry I'm no help but if you haven't read that one, try to find it. I'll try to take time and find the title but somebody here will probably ring the bell.

The thing I remember about Baker was that .577 and down were "small bores" and that he once shot a "rifle" spewing forth a 1/2 pound explosive shell. Plinking anyone?

The Snows of Kilimanjaro, is the story you are thinking of.

SS

I enjoy all..Hemmingway, Capstick and too a lesser extent Ruark....I also suggest Edison Marshall.."The Heart of The Hunter"...only about thirty percent africa, much about tigers in Indo China and India

Steve,
Smith's latest is Triumph of the Sun, which has just come out in paperback, I am told. As soon as I find it (the ppbck) it's coming home with me, as I have read all of his stuff, too, and am hungry for more.

I've read them all and they are all great. All three of them were drunks too. Wonder if that makes you a better writer?

I've hunted with 4 different PHs in Africa, and each and every one of them (not knowing each other), all stated that Capstick did most of his hunting from a barstool. He listened to other PHs stories and repeated them as his own. Or so the story goes.

Jeff

Not the subject of this thread but my brother told me about another "African writer", a Dutchman who is an African, Lauren Van Der Post, who grew up there and has written many books on various African subjects, not always hunting per se but the writing of it is perhaps unavoidable if one writes much about Africa.

He has been knighted in England and I believe grew up in the early 1900's. If any of you are casting about for some bed side stand reading, or otherwise, he comes highly recommeded.

I had an image in my mind of Capstick after inhaling his books and several years ago I saw just one video about shooting elephants. Listening to him chatting around the camp was an image buster for me. Funny how you picture a man and then see him 'in life'. Same for Hemmingway although I never met him personally. Have met his son several times and talked with people in Sun Valley (where he lived at the end) and there's quite a different opinion round the Valley. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

What is your impression of Capstick as seen in the videos he had made? Did it alter the conception you had of him ?