Synopses & Reviews
In 2008 an extraordinary two-minute film clip appeared on YouTube and immediately became an international phenomenon. It captures the moving reunion of two young men and their pet lion Christian, after they had left him in Africa with
Born Frees George Adamson to introduce him into his rightful home in the wild.
A Lion Called Christian tells the remarkable story of how Anthony “Ace” Bourke and John Rendall, visitors to London from Australia in 1969, bought the boisterous lion cub in the pet department of Harrods. For several months, the three of them shared a flat above a furniture shop on Londons Kings Road, where the charismatic and intelligent Christian quickly became a local celebrity, cruising the streets in the back of a Bentley, popping in for lunch at a local restaurant, even posing for a fashion advertisement. But the lion cub was growing up—fast—and soon even the walled church garden where he went for exercise wasnt large enough for him. How could Ace and John avoid having to send Christian to a zoo for the rest of his life? A coincidental meeting with English actors Virginia McKenna and Bill Travers, stars of the hit film Born Free, led to Christian being flown to Kenya and placed under the expert care of “the father of lions” George Adamson. Incredibly, when Ace and John returned to Kenya to see Christian a year later, they received a loving welcome from their lion, who was by then fully integrated into Africa and a life with other lions.
Originally published in 1971, and now fully revised and updated with more than 50 photographs of Christian from cuddly cub in London to magnificent lion in Africa, A Lion Called Christian is a touching and uplifting true story of an indelible human-animal bond. It is is destined to become one of the great classics of animal literature.
Review
An Amazon Best Book of the Monthandquot;Insightful and philosophical, Jans probes the boundaries between wilderness and civilization and our responsibilities to the untamed creatures in our midst.andquot; --
Publishers Weeklyandquot;The sweet and cautionary tale of a wolf that liked to play with dogs...An astute, deeply respectful encounter between man and wolf.andquot; -- Kirkus Reviews
andquot;Jans is an exceptional storyteller andmdash; no nature writer can top him in terms of sheer emotional force andmdash; and he frames even the smallest moment with haunting power.andquot; --and#160;The New York Timesandquot;A thoughtful, highly detailed account of one communityand#39;s poignant encounter with a truly magnificent creature.andquot;and#160;--and#160;BookPageandquot;Beautifully written, A Wolf Called Romeo is a thoughtful and moving story about one of natureand#39;s most evocative animals. Be forewarned: I read it cover to cover in one sitting late into the night. The author owes me a good nightand#39;s sleep; but it was well worth it.andquot; -- Patricia McConnell, author of The Other End of the Leashandquot;The compelling, grounded account of a black wolf that stepped forward in the half-light between wilderness and civilization and the people who met him there. From the powerful first moments to a hard-won conclusion that becomes our journey, too, A Wolf Called Romeo is a book to keep a reader up nights, and a book that carries long after the last page is turned.andquot; -- Susannah Charleson, author of Scent of the Missing and The Possibility Dogsandquot;A Wolf Called Romeo is one of the best books Iandrsquo;ve read in a great many years. It gives heart-wrenching insight into an amazing animal, important insight into the shining side of our relationship with that animal, and important if bitter insight into the dark side. Itandrsquo;s told in a quiet, even-handed manner which makes it all the more compelling, and itandrsquo;s riveting. In short, this is a real page turner-- one that years from now you will remember in all its detail. If you have only the time to read one book, read this one.andquot; -- Elizabeth Marshall Thomas, author of The Hidden Life of Dogs and A Million Years With You
Synopsis
Over the past six months, more than 44 million people have seen the video clip of Christian the Lion's reunion with Ace Bourke and John Rendall on YouTube. The story of the men who adopted the lion cub from Harrods, lived with him in London, then released him into a free life in Kenya with the help of Father of Lions George Adamson has captured the hearts of audiences worldwide.
A Lion Called Christian is the definitive account of Christian's life, written by the men who raised him. From their early days in London, riding around town with a lion cub in the back of their car to their time spent with George Adamson working to reintegrate Christian into the wild, to their heartwarming reunion with their beloved friend and the bittersweet story of the last time they saw him, this fully revised and updated edition of their 1971 memoir will bring new light to Christian's unique and unexpected story. Illustrated with over 40 photographs--many of them never-before-published--A Lion Called Christian is sure to be the must-read book of the year for anyone who has ever known and loved an animal.
Synopsis
The remarkable true story of a six-year friendship between a wild, oddly gentle black wolf and the people and dogs of Juneau, Alaska.
Synopsis
The unlikely true story of a six-year friendship between a wild, oddly gentle black wolf and the people and dogs of Juneau, Alaska and#160; No stranger to wildlife, Nick Jans had lived in Alaska for nearly thirty years. But when one evening at twilight a lone black wolf ambled into view not far from his doorstep, Nick would finally come to know this mystical speciesand#8212;up close as never before.
A Wolf Called Romeo is the remarkable story of a wolf who returned again and again to interact with the people and dogs of Juneau, living on the edges of their community, engaging in an improbable, awe-inspiring interspecies dance and bringing the wild into sharp focus. At first the people of Juneau were guarded, torn between shoot first, ask questions later instincts and curiosity. But as Romeo began to tag along with cross-country skiers on their daily jaunts, play fetch with local dogs, or simply lie near Nick and nap under the sun, they came to accept Romeo, and he them. For Nick it was about trying to understand Romeo, then it was about winning his trust, and ultimately it was about watching over him, for as long as he or anyone could.
Written with a deft hand and a searching heart, A Wolf Called Romeo is an unforgettable tale of a creature who defied nature and thus gave humans a chance to understand it a little more.
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Video
About the Author
NICK JANS is an award-winning writer, photographer, and author of numerous books, including The Grizzly Maze.andnbsp;He is a contributing editor to Alaska Magazine and has written forandnbsp;Rolling Stone, Backpacker, and the Christian Science Monitor.
Table of Contents
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Acknowledgmentsand#160;xiii
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Prologueand#160;xv 1.and#160;Wolf!and#160;1
2.and#160;Rules of Engagementand#160;23
3.and#160;Romeoand#160;41
4.and#160;The Original Machineand#160;55
5.and#160;Shoot, Shovel, and Shut Upand#160;75
6.and#160;The Survival Sweepstakesand#160;91
7.and#160;Whatand#8217;s in a Name?and#160;109
8.and#160;The New Normaland#160;123
9.and#160;The Miracle Wolfand#160;135
10.and#160;The Wolf Whispererand#160;147
11.and#160;Pugs and Pomeraniansand#160;167
12.and#160;Friends of Romeoand#160;183
13.and#160;The Killersand#160;201
14.and#160;The Weight of Dreamsand#160;221 and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Epilogueand#160;233
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Notesand#160;237
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Suggested Readingand#160;249
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;Index and#160;253