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The Man-Eaters of Tsavo
"Darkness fell almost immediately, and everything became extraordinarily still. The silence of an African jungle on a dark night needs to be experienced to be realised; it is most impressive, especially when one is absolutely alone and isolated from one's fellow creatures, as I was then."
In the late 19th century, the British began construction on a railway linking Uganda with the Indian Ocean. The railroad's passage through Africa crossed over the Tsavo River in Kenya, and thus the British Army brought Lieutenant-Colonel John Henry Patterson in to lead the thousands of workers as they began the bridge's construction. Throughout the next nine months, the construction site encountered a pair of lions that would stalk the campsite, drag workers from their tents, and devour those workers at nighttime. The killings occurred daily and the lions became bolder with each passing week. Nothing seemed to work for Patterson to stave off the lion attacks.
Patterson published The Man-Eaters of Tsavo in 1907 to chronicle those nine months where the lion attacks intensified to the point where the bridge's construction had to be halted. Included in Patterson's account of the "Man-Eaters at Tsavo" are other stories from his time in East Africa.
In the late 19th century, the British began construction on a railway linking Uganda with the Indian Ocean. The railroad's passage through Africa crossed over the Tsavo River in Kenya, and thus the British Army brought Lieutenant-Colonel John Henry Patterson in to lead the thousands of workers as they began the bridge's construction. Throughout the next nine months, the construction site encountered a pair of lions that would stalk the campsite, drag workers from their tents, and devour those workers at nighttime. The killings occurred daily and the lions became bolder with each passing week. Nothing seemed to work for Patterson to stave off the lion attacks.
Patterson published The Man-Eaters of Tsavo in 1907 to chronicle those nine months where the lion attacks intensified to the point where the bridge's construction had to be halted. Included in Patterson's account of the "Man-Eaters at Tsavo" are other stories from his time in East Africa.
172 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1907
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About the author
John Henry Patterson
51 books22 followersLieutenant-Colonel John Henry Patterson, DSO, known as J.H. Patterson, was an Anglo-Irish soldier, hunter, author and Zionist, best known for his book The Man-Eaters of Tsavo (1907), which details his experiences while building a railway bridge over the Tsavo river in Kenya in 1898-99.
Although he was himself a Protestant, he became a major figure in Zionism as the commander of both the Zion Mule Corps and of the 38th Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers (aka Jewish Legion of the British Army) in World War One. He ultimately achieved the rank of Lt. Colonel, and retired from the British Army in 1920. Patterson was a strong supporter of the establishment of a separate Jewish state in the Middle East, which was realized with the statehood of Israel on May 14, 1948, less than a year after his death.
Patterson died at the age of eighty. He was living in California at the time.
Although he was himself a Protestant, he became a major figure in Zionism as the commander of both the Zion Mule Corps and of the 38th Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers (aka Jewish Legion of the British Army) in World War One. He ultimately achieved the rank of Lt. Colonel, and retired from the British Army in 1920. Patterson was a strong supporter of the establishment of a separate Jewish state in the Middle East, which was realized with the statehood of Israel on May 14, 1948, less than a year after his death.
Patterson died at the age of eighty. He was living in California at the time.
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July 12, 2023
Excellent firsthand account of dangerous adventures
This is Colonel Patterson's own account of the Tsavo lions and his hunting and killing of the man-eaters. About a third of the book is about these lions. The rest is mostly other African hunting stories with some information about work on the East Africa railroad. It is written in a lively, easy to read style. For me it, was also a quick read. There are no photos and but three or four illustrations in the free Kindle efition.
Those familiar with the movies THE GHOST AND THE DARKNESS and BWANA DEVIL will see several passages which directly inspired various scenes in those fictionalized movies. The rail car scene in BWANA DEVIL was surely inspired by Patterson's account of a terrifying incident concerning a different man-eater a few years latter.
Potential readers should be aware that the book describes events, life and attitudes as the were in the late1800's and early 1900's. Modern political correctness will not be found in these pages.
Addendum, December 21, 2022:
Patterson may not have been politically correct but he spent the period from WWI thru the end of his life fighting discrimination against Jews. He established Jewish combat units in the British army in both world wars. He bucked authority and the chain of command to recruit foreign Jews for these Jewish Legions. Some believe that he was not promoted because of those efforts and his fighting against discrimination. He also worked for a Jewish homeland. He has been called the Lawrence of Judea.
This is Colonel Patterson's own account of the Tsavo lions and his hunting and killing of the man-eaters. About a third of the book is about these lions. The rest is mostly other African hunting stories with some information about work on the East Africa railroad. It is written in a lively, easy to read style. For me it, was also a quick read. There are no photos and but three or four illustrations in the free Kindle efition.
Those familiar with the movies THE GHOST AND THE DARKNESS and BWANA DEVIL will see several passages which directly inspired various scenes in those fictionalized movies. The rail car scene in BWANA DEVIL was surely inspired by Patterson's account of a terrifying incident concerning a different man-eater a few years latter.
Potential readers should be aware that the book describes events, life and attitudes as the were in the late1800's and early 1900's. Modern political correctness will not be found in these pages.
Addendum, December 21, 2022:
Patterson may not have been politically correct but he spent the period from WWI thru the end of his life fighting discrimination against Jews. He established Jewish combat units in the British army in both world wars. He bucked authority and the chain of command to recruit foreign Jews for these Jewish Legions. Some believe that he was not promoted because of those efforts and his fighting against discrimination. He also worked for a Jewish homeland. He has been called the Lawrence of Judea.
November 8, 2022
The Man-Eaters of Tsavo
by John Henry Patterson
I actually read it twice. I was horrified by the way the social structure was so blatantly racist and the trophy hunting on the first go round. But I wanted to read it again as if I was living in that time period. On the second round, as a White, rich person this would be a good read.
The details of the land, the society, social structures, native cultures, hunting tips and hunting adventures are well documented. Many of this is not to my liking but it is documented well.
When he is describing the lions crunching on the victim mere feet from the barrier in the dark where the other workers can hear it, it gave me shivers. This free book I picked up didn't have illustrations or photos but I did look them up. I have been to the Field Museum to see the lions. Although they have probably shrunk due to poor taxidermy, lions are lions! I would not want to mess with them!
The book has some main points. He discusses his job and the problems associated with it. His hunting and trophy adventures. The local natives and land. Then a brief guide in the back on how to plan your hunting trip complete with who to bring, what to bring, and the cost.
by John Henry Patterson
I actually read it twice. I was horrified by the way the social structure was so blatantly racist and the trophy hunting on the first go round. But I wanted to read it again as if I was living in that time period. On the second round, as a White, rich person this would be a good read.
The details of the land, the society, social structures, native cultures, hunting tips and hunting adventures are well documented. Many of this is not to my liking but it is documented well.
When he is describing the lions crunching on the victim mere feet from the barrier in the dark where the other workers can hear it, it gave me shivers. This free book I picked up didn't have illustrations or photos but I did look them up. I have been to the Field Museum to see the lions. Although they have probably shrunk due to poor taxidermy, lions are lions! I would not want to mess with them!
The book has some main points. He discusses his job and the problems associated with it. His hunting and trophy adventures. The local natives and land. Then a brief guide in the back on how to plan your hunting trip complete with who to bring, what to bring, and the cost.
June 15, 2016
The first half of this book is great. The second half is both boring and disturbing. Let me explain.
The first half consists of Patterson’s description of the title story, his battles with two man-eating lions in Tsavo. It’s really incredible that this happened; I thought that it was just a myth that lions could acquire a taste for human flesh. One suspects that Patterson could have been exaggerating, but the style of the book is so plain and direct that he comes across as honest, even humble. I know of few real-life adventure stories that can match this one.
The second half is boring because there is no comparable adventure story. It is disturbing because it is essentially a collection of anecdotes from Patterson’s hunting expeditions. One should not judge people of former times by today's standards, so I will say nothing of Patterson as a man. I will say, though, that I was baffled and upset by the degree to which Patterson and his cronies loved to shoot wild animals. They couldn’t get enough of it. The book is filled with anecdotes like this. (This is a parody, not a quote):
One fine day on the savannah, I came across a beautiful waterbuck. Not wishing to pass up this opportunity for a new pair of horns, I quickly took aim and shot. I missed his heart, though, and only managed to break its shoulder. It reared up on his hind legs in fear, so I shot it a few more times until it fell down. I was making my way to it when, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed two lions sleeping peacefully in the tall grass not far off. They didn’t present a threat, but one had a beautiful black mane, so I shot it in the face. The bullet failed to hit the brain, though, only lodging itself in the tongue, so the lion came charging down at me. Luckily, my gun bearer started running off, which distracted the lion, and gave me a good shot at its heart. Soon it was on the ground clawing and gasping for air. Soon after that, a lioness came bounding towards him, apparently not wishing to abandon her mate. I shot her a few times, just to scare her off. Then I plunged a knife into the lion’s heart.
If anything, this book is an excellent window into the colonial era of East Africa.
Again, I don’t wish to besmirch Patterson’s reputation. A quick glance at his biography shows that he was actually an extraordinary man. I’m just glad our view towards wildlife is changing.
The first half consists of Patterson’s description of the title story, his battles with two man-eating lions in Tsavo. It’s really incredible that this happened; I thought that it was just a myth that lions could acquire a taste for human flesh. One suspects that Patterson could have been exaggerating, but the style of the book is so plain and direct that he comes across as honest, even humble. I know of few real-life adventure stories that can match this one.
The second half is boring because there is no comparable adventure story. It is disturbing because it is essentially a collection of anecdotes from Patterson’s hunting expeditions. One should not judge people of former times by today's standards, so I will say nothing of Patterson as a man. I will say, though, that I was baffled and upset by the degree to which Patterson and his cronies loved to shoot wild animals. They couldn’t get enough of it. The book is filled with anecdotes like this. (This is a parody, not a quote):
One fine day on the savannah, I came across a beautiful waterbuck. Not wishing to pass up this opportunity for a new pair of horns, I quickly took aim and shot. I missed his heart, though, and only managed to break its shoulder. It reared up on his hind legs in fear, so I shot it a few more times until it fell down. I was making my way to it when, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed two lions sleeping peacefully in the tall grass not far off. They didn’t present a threat, but one had a beautiful black mane, so I shot it in the face. The bullet failed to hit the brain, though, only lodging itself in the tongue, so the lion came charging down at me. Luckily, my gun bearer started running off, which distracted the lion, and gave me a good shot at its heart. Soon it was on the ground clawing and gasping for air. Soon after that, a lioness came bounding towards him, apparently not wishing to abandon her mate. I shot her a few times, just to scare her off. Then I plunged a knife into the lion’s heart.
If anything, this book is an excellent window into the colonial era of East Africa.
Again, I don’t wish to besmirch Patterson’s reputation. A quick glance at his biography shows that he was actually an extraordinary man. I’m just glad our view towards wildlife is changing.
February 25, 2019
An account by Colonel John Henry Patterson of his time in Africa - while I expected a focus on Tsavo, it's in fact only about the first third of the book that deals with his time there and travails brought on by the titular pair of man-eating lions.
Written around the dawn of the 20th century (covering events from 1899 onwards), it's absolutely a product of it's time. "Natives" are described just as many of the game animals, and range from "low sorts" to those who welcome missionaries and as a result "are quickly becoming the most civilised natives in the country". One trap for the lions of Tsavo was even designed to be used with coolies as bait! But though a very colonial attitude does exist, it's certainly not completely clear cut - Colonel Patterson spends all of the first nights since building the man-bait trap performing as said bait himself, speaks several languages, and doesn't hesitate to offer his own cabin as shelter when one of the camps believe themselves stalked by the lions. He may see zebras, and as they're so uncommon, immediately move to shoot them; but he's also reluctant to harm such "rare and graceful" creatures as the pair of giraffe he happens upon.
In short, go in expecting to find some very archaic thinking, but it's a short and interesting read for anyone interested in an account of some truly dangerous times in colonial Africa.
Written around the dawn of the 20th century (covering events from 1899 onwards), it's absolutely a product of it's time. "Natives" are described just as many of the game animals, and range from "low sorts" to those who welcome missionaries and as a result "are quickly becoming the most civilised natives in the country". One trap for the lions of Tsavo was even designed to be used with coolies as bait! But though a very colonial attitude does exist, it's certainly not completely clear cut - Colonel Patterson spends all of the first nights since building the man-bait trap performing as said bait himself, speaks several languages, and doesn't hesitate to offer his own cabin as shelter when one of the camps believe themselves stalked by the lions. He may see zebras, and as they're so uncommon, immediately move to shoot them; but he's also reluctant to harm such "rare and graceful" creatures as the pair of giraffe he happens upon.
In short, go in expecting to find some very archaic thinking, but it's a short and interesting read for anyone interested in an account of some truly dangerous times in colonial Africa.
Read
August 27, 2018The account of a big-game hunter and builder of the Mombasa railway, Col Patterson, who was also the guy who took on the notorious man-eating lions of Tsavo. These two lions are possibly the biggest man eaters in history, killing maybe 140 people and bringing the railway construction to a halt because of their nightly attacks on the workers' camps, and by Patterson's account were near-supernaturally cunning and deadly. A fabulous story, even with Patterson's truly weird decision to pause the story of the MAN EATING LIONS for entire chapters while he discusses his railway construction (which said, that railway pretty much created a country and allowed British domination of East Africa, so.)
Obviously this is a book by a British empire builder of the turn of the century, for good and ill. The attitudes to race and culture are a lot more interesting and gnarly than the stereotypes might lead you to suspect (Patterson is all about the White Man's Burden and reeks of British entitlement but he also sets to learn Swahili, already speaks Hindustani, and undeniably puts his own life at risk against the lions attacking his men). It's full of unintentionally hilarious quotes (eg on zebras: "This was the first time I had seen these beautifully marked animals in their wild state, so I selected the largest and fired." So. That tells you everything.) Plus the story of the lions is genuinely jawdropping, particularly the bit where one of them gets into the railway carriage where three hunters are lying in wait.
Obviously this is a book by a British empire builder of the turn of the century, for good and ill. The attitudes to race and culture are a lot more interesting and gnarly than the stereotypes might lead you to suspect (Patterson is all about the White Man's Burden and reeks of British entitlement but he also sets to learn Swahili, already speaks Hindustani, and undeniably puts his own life at risk against the lions attacking his men). It's full of unintentionally hilarious quotes (eg on zebras: "This was the first time I had seen these beautifully marked animals in their wild state, so I selected the largest and fired." So. That tells you everything.) Plus the story of the lions is genuinely jawdropping, particularly the bit where one of them gets into the railway carriage where three hunters are lying in wait.
March 22, 2013
Of the last 8 books I've read, 6 of them I have given a 5 star rating, therefore when I picked up this book to read, I resolved, whatever it was like, not give it a 5 star rating. If I did, my friends were going to think I have no discernment and simply love everything I last read. . . However, there is no way I can give this book a simple 4 star rating. No, it's five star and deserves every one of them. The Man-Eaters of Tsavo is a beautiful recount of John Patterson's time in East Africa. Beginning with the famous instance of the Man-Eating Lions, he proceeds to recount tale after tale of the hunter and the hunted -- and how swiftly those roles can be reversed. Mr. Patterson's experiences, complete with daring, danger and touch of humor, will thrill and inspire you. Well written with beautiful descriptions, this book was a thorough delight.
September 10, 2019
I have read many books about the reign of terror caused by the two lions of Tsavo, but this is the tale told by J. H. Patterson, THE guy who was there! Patterson was the character played by Val Kilmer in The Ghost and the Darkness, he was the a construction engineer (and later, a famous big game hunter).
Patterson was hired to oversee the building of a railroad in Africa. While construction in Africa is never routine, this project became the buffet for two lions. There always were, and probably always will, be confrontations between lions or other predators, and humans in Africa. But this was different. These lions were deliberately hunting people to eat them, taking them in preference over any other prey.
The lions later proved to be healthy, fit, strong adults—not injured or old lions who couldn't catch anything else and who were starving. Nope, these guys just liked to eat people. Another oddity was that it was two lions together who had this habit. Did they both independently develop the taste for man, and team up? Or were they perhaps brothers, who lost their mother and their entire pride, and ate man out of necessity until it became a habit? Scariest of all, there have been occasional reports of lionesses teaching their cubs to hunt man...did that happen here?
The lions basically held them hostage for 9 months, effortlessly evading Patterson's attempts to hide up in a tree and wait for them. They seemed supernatural, they were so good at snatching a victim from the opposite of wherever they were expected to show up, and their timing and ability to work together contributed to this. Many natives felt that they were bad spirits who didn't want the railroad built.
The book reads like adventure fiction, with close calls and terrifying escapes. Killing the lions becomes the number one focus for Patterson, more important than the railroad he's actually hired to build (understandably!). The matter-of-fact way that he describes the events makes them more chilling, and builds up to the edge-of-your-seat conclusion.
There are other Africa adventures related in the book that are also exciting to read about (I'm just always the most intrigued by the lions!). Good book for anyone interested in true adventure stories, or lions, or Africa!
Patterson was hired to oversee the building of a railroad in Africa. While construction in Africa is never routine, this project became the buffet for two lions. There always were, and probably always will, be confrontations between lions or other predators, and humans in Africa. But this was different. These lions were deliberately hunting people to eat them, taking them in preference over any other prey.
The lions later proved to be healthy, fit, strong adults—not injured or old lions who couldn't catch anything else and who were starving. Nope, these guys just liked to eat people. Another oddity was that it was two lions together who had this habit. Did they both independently develop the taste for man, and team up? Or were they perhaps brothers, who lost their mother and their entire pride, and ate man out of necessity until it became a habit? Scariest of all, there have been occasional reports of lionesses teaching their cubs to hunt man...did that happen here?
The lions basically held them hostage for 9 months, effortlessly evading Patterson's attempts to hide up in a tree and wait for them. They seemed supernatural, they were so good at snatching a victim from the opposite of wherever they were expected to show up, and their timing and ability to work together contributed to this. Many natives felt that they were bad spirits who didn't want the railroad built.
The book reads like adventure fiction, with close calls and terrifying escapes. Killing the lions becomes the number one focus for Patterson, more important than the railroad he's actually hired to build (understandably!). The matter-of-fact way that he describes the events makes them more chilling, and builds up to the edge-of-your-seat conclusion.
There are other Africa adventures related in the book that are also exciting to read about (I'm just always the most intrigued by the lions!). Good book for anyone interested in true adventure stories, or lions, or Africa!
December 6, 2022
'A Powerful Story of Man vs. Wild'
I first heard of this story from the film 'The Ghost and the Darkness' and loved the movie so much I kept this book on my must-read list. After finally coming around to reading this book I am pleased to say I was not disappointed.
Lt. Col. J.H. Patterson is a British engineer with the task of building a bridge over the Tsavo River so that Mombasa can be linked with the towns and villages in the east. Upon arriving at the work station, Patterson learns all labor has ground to a halt. Apparently two lions have taken a fancy to human flesh and numerous Indian workers (referred to as 'coolies' at the time) to the point nothing could be done. Being a hunter and having longed for tracking lions, Patterson takes the task of killing the lions so that work may continue, and he has his trophy. However, this is no simple task. The lions have engaged humans for some time and know their habits. They are skillful hunters and brave enough to enter the camps in full view so that they may drag off a victim for which they intend to dine on.
With skill and determination, Patterson meets the challenge head on and describes his encounters with these lions and many other adventures in a novel that reads quite well even after more than 100 years since its first publication. Much has been written about the 'Maneaters of Tsavo' and fact vs. fiction will come into play. Regardless, this is an excellent story and if you love novels about the dangers of Africa and thrilling safaris, this novel is right for you.
I first heard of this story from the film 'The Ghost and the Darkness' and loved the movie so much I kept this book on my must-read list. After finally coming around to reading this book I am pleased to say I was not disappointed.
Lt. Col. J.H. Patterson is a British engineer with the task of building a bridge over the Tsavo River so that Mombasa can be linked with the towns and villages in the east. Upon arriving at the work station, Patterson learns all labor has ground to a halt. Apparently two lions have taken a fancy to human flesh and numerous Indian workers (referred to as 'coolies' at the time) to the point nothing could be done. Being a hunter and having longed for tracking lions, Patterson takes the task of killing the lions so that work may continue, and he has his trophy. However, this is no simple task. The lions have engaged humans for some time and know their habits. They are skillful hunters and brave enough to enter the camps in full view so that they may drag off a victim for which they intend to dine on.
With skill and determination, Patterson meets the challenge head on and describes his encounters with these lions and many other adventures in a novel that reads quite well even after more than 100 years since its first publication. Much has been written about the 'Maneaters of Tsavo' and fact vs. fiction will come into play. Regardless, this is an excellent story and if you love novels about the dangers of Africa and thrilling safaris, this novel is right for you.
September 18, 2022
A classic originally published in 1907. Based on the movie, starring Val Kilmer, which was really good. The book? Not so good. Set in Africa, the hunters are the ones being hunted by a ferocious lion.
July 20, 2023
A thrilling first-hand account of the now infamous man-eaters of Tsavo, portrayed in the motion picture The Ghost and The Darkness. The retelling of the lions that terrorized Tsavo in the late 19th century is but a small fraction of the beginning of the book, but the rest of it is full of equally harrowing encounters with the wildlife of East Africa. Excellent read.
February 28, 2021
I love books about real-life sagas, and this one didn't dissapoint...
This story was also depicted in a few movies; most famously, the 1994 movie The Ghost and the Darkness , starring Val Kilmer as John Henry Patterson.
Author Lieutenant-Colonel John Henry Patterson, was a British soldier, hunter, author, and Christian Zionist, best known for this book.
John Henry Patterson:
Even though the writing of this book is well over a hundred years old, I found the prose to be easily accessible, and the story to be fairly well-told here. Of course, some of the writing reflects the mindset of the era.
Patterson writes in a manner that would no doubt be commonplace at the time, but would likely cause an outrage in a book published today. He also seems to shoot just about every animal he comes across on the African savannah; including rhino(s), an elephant, and several lions.
Indeed, you can read many reviews here by those who were offended by this book...
Here's just one interesting quote, to make my point:
I won't give the story away in this review, but the saga of the lions wraps up in the first ~third to half of the book. For the remainder, Patterson writes about his time in the region, including details about many hunting trips he took part in, including a few rhino hunts. This struck me as curious, as Patterson must have thought that the story of two man-eating lions was not as interesting as his accounts of hunting safaris. Maybe that was the style at the time. LOL again...
Here are some photos of the lions. I've covered them, to not give anything away for those worried about spoilers:
This was an interesting short read, that I would recommend to anyone interested.
4 stars.
The Tsavo Man-Eaters are now on display in the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago:
"Pools of blood marked these halting-places, where he doubtless indulged in the man-eaters' habit of licking the skin off so as to get at the fresh blood. (I have been led to believe that this is their custom from the appearance of two half-eaten bodies which I subsequently rescued: the skin was gone in places, and the flesh looked dry, as if it had been sucked.) On reaching the spot where the body had been devoured, a dreadful spectacle presented itself. The ground all round was covered with blood and morsels of flesh and bones, but the unfortunate jemadar's head had been left intact, save for the holes made by the lion's tusks on seizing him, and lay a short distance away from the other remains, the eyes staring wide open with a startled, horrified look in them. The place was considerably cut up, and on closer examination we found that two lions had been there and had probably struggled for possession of the body. It was the most gruesome sight I had ever seen..."The Man-Eaters of Tsavo tells the story of a pair of man-eating male lions in the Tsavo region, which were responsible for the deaths of a number of construction workers on the Kenya-Uganda Railway between March and December 1898. Author John Henry Patterson gives several figures of the total deaths inflicted by the lions, overall claiming that there were 135 victims (!)
This story was also depicted in a few movies; most famously, the 1994 movie The Ghost and the Darkness , starring Val Kilmer as John Henry Patterson.
Author Lieutenant-Colonel John Henry Patterson, was a British soldier, hunter, author, and Christian Zionist, best known for this book.
John Henry Patterson:
Even though the writing of this book is well over a hundred years old, I found the prose to be easily accessible, and the story to be fairly well-told here. Of course, some of the writing reflects the mindset of the era.
Patterson writes in a manner that would no doubt be commonplace at the time, but would likely cause an outrage in a book published today. He also seems to shoot just about every animal he comes across on the African savannah; including rhino(s), an elephant, and several lions.
Indeed, you can read many reviews here by those who were offended by this book...
Here's just one interesting quote, to make my point:
"...All are followers of the Prophet, and their social customs are consequently much the same as those of any other Mohammedan race, though with a good admixture of savagedom..."
I won't give the story away in this review, but the saga of the lions wraps up in the first ~third to half of the book. For the remainder, Patterson writes about his time in the region, including details about many hunting trips he took part in, including a few rhino hunts. This struck me as curious, as Patterson must have thought that the story of two man-eating lions was not as interesting as his accounts of hunting safaris. Maybe that was the style at the time. LOL again...
Here are some photos of the lions. I've covered them, to not give anything away for those worried about spoilers:
This was an interesting short read, that I would recommend to anyone interested.
4 stars.
The Tsavo Man-Eaters are now on display in the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago:
February 28, 2016
The first few chapters were interesting although I found the continual "look there is a beautiful animal, let me kill it" rather dated.
July 29, 2025
Books like this can be hard to review. Large portions are about game hunting adventures in a time before climate change, habitat loss and species decline had made hunting big game more morally troubling. As such I find these stories easier to enjoy as natural adventure stories than say similar stories from the 50s or 60s when big game animals were under significantly more human pressure. The story of hunting the famous man eating lions of tsavo is definitely gripping. Of course, some shorter segments of the book about tribes the author encountered are more problematic. While the author of the book is more accepting I would say than many of his time (as other reviewers have noted he significantly hurt his own military career later after fighting for equal treatment for Jewish soldiers under his command), he is still undoubtedly a purveyor of racist ideas as almost everyone was at that time. I think there are two ways to approach this. One is to skip any section not about game hunting adventures. This will remove many of the more offensive passages without affecting any narrative as the book (after the man eating lions portion at the beginning) is largely a selection of anecdotes. The second (and what I did personally) is to read the book in its entirety with an eye towards better understanding the pervasive racism of the time and how it still affects our world now. What is the appropriate course for any given reader I think is entirely up to them.
September 11, 2025
ক্লাস এইটে কী নাইনে থাকাকালীন বিশ্বসাহিত্য কেন্দ্রের সুবাদে বইটা প্রথমবার পড়া হইছিলো। তখন যে বইটা বেশ মুগ্ধ হয়ে পড়ছিলাম তা এখনো মনে। এবার আবার বইটা নিয়ে নাড়াচাড়া করতে গিয়ে বুঝলাম, সেই মুগ্ধতা যথার্থই ছিলো।
August 1, 2023
One of my favourite books. This is my second time reading it - the author writes to well that it is hard to put down. He is amazingly modest as well, which makes it even more fun to read!
January 7, 2015
In 1898, the British were laying a railway line through what was then Uganda and into Kenya. At the Tsavo River in Kenya (where a railway bridge had to be built), the project was suddenly hit by an unforeseen menace: two man-eating lions that began stalking the camps of workers (nearly all of them from India). Over a period of about nine months, the two lions killed dozens of people, at times bringing work to a complete standstill. Because of the constant fear, the workers came close to mutiny, and one contingent even fled the camp. It was only in December 1898, after many attempts (both on his own and in the company of others) that Colonel JH Patterson, the Engineer in charge of the project, managed to finally kill the man-eaters.
Patterson’s account of the terror of these ‘demons’ (as the lions were dubbed by the Indian workers) and his attempts—both failed and finally successful—form about half of The Man-Eaters of Tsavo and Other East African Adventures. This is a gripping, tense and interesting read, as one follows Patterson in his endeavours to get rid of the lions. The people—the Pathans and Punjabis who made up most of the work crew—were brought to life vividly, as was their fear, and the measures taken to somehow keep off the lions, or trap them. The superstitions, the occasionally humorous anecdote, the courage.
What I didn’t like about this section of the book was the description of Patterson’s work on the railway: it was just too technical: I could’ve done with a little more explanation.
But The Man-Eaters of Tsavo isn’t just that; it’s also And Other East African Adventures. And this part, while it has its merits—some interesting accounts of the ‘natives’ and their way of living, for instance—was just too colonial for my taste. Yes, I know that’s to be expected, since this book was written in 1907, but still. While Patterson’s tone is not too reminiscent of that ‘the white man’s burden’ thing, there’s a definite whiff of condescension in his descriptions of the ‘savages’ (his words, not mine).
Worst, there’s the mindless hunting which seems to have taken up most of Patterson’s time when he wasn’t working. The second half of the book consists almost entirely of descriptions of various hunts he went on, shooting everything from rhinos and hippos to lions, elands, ostrich, and more. One of the appendices of the book is actually a ‘how to’ guide for the Englishman (or Englishwoman, I suppose) planning a hunting trip to East Africa. How much Patterson helped in doing away with Africa’s wildlife, one can only guess… sad.
(Incidentally, the second appendix in the book—an English translation of a poem written by an Indian worker, Roshan Khan, as thanks for Patterson for killing the lions—is a delight).
I’d read this book for the first half, which is good. The second, I’d leave.
Patterson’s account of the terror of these ‘demons’ (as the lions were dubbed by the Indian workers) and his attempts—both failed and finally successful—form about half of The Man-Eaters of Tsavo and Other East African Adventures. This is a gripping, tense and interesting read, as one follows Patterson in his endeavours to get rid of the lions. The people—the Pathans and Punjabis who made up most of the work crew—were brought to life vividly, as was their fear, and the measures taken to somehow keep off the lions, or trap them. The superstitions, the occasionally humorous anecdote, the courage.
What I didn’t like about this section of the book was the description of Patterson’s work on the railway: it was just too technical: I could’ve done with a little more explanation.
But The Man-Eaters of Tsavo isn’t just that; it’s also And Other East African Adventures. And this part, while it has its merits—some interesting accounts of the ‘natives’ and their way of living, for instance—was just too colonial for my taste. Yes, I know that’s to be expected, since this book was written in 1907, but still. While Patterson’s tone is not too reminiscent of that ‘the white man’s burden’ thing, there’s a definite whiff of condescension in his descriptions of the ‘savages’ (his words, not mine).
Worst, there’s the mindless hunting which seems to have taken up most of Patterson’s time when he wasn’t working. The second half of the book consists almost entirely of descriptions of various hunts he went on, shooting everything from rhinos and hippos to lions, elands, ostrich, and more. One of the appendices of the book is actually a ‘how to’ guide for the Englishman (or Englishwoman, I suppose) planning a hunting trip to East Africa. How much Patterson helped in doing away with Africa’s wildlife, one can only guess… sad.
(Incidentally, the second appendix in the book—an English translation of a poem written by an Indian worker, Roshan Khan, as thanks for Patterson for killing the lions—is a delight).
I’d read this book for the first half, which is good. The second, I’d leave.
November 25, 2013
I first came to the topic of the Tsavo man-eaters via the movie called "The Ghost and the Darkness", which is very loosely based on this book here. The movie went more towards action while the events in the book probably would have been better adapted into a thriller or maybe a light horror movie.
So when I read this book and heard the author's own account of the man-eaters I must say I was pleasantly surprised, and kind of disappointed in the movie. Especially since the lions in the book looked totally different.
Now I was also kind of disappointed with the book. The thing is that I think the title is misleading since the story of the man-eaters is not such a big part of the book and most of it deals with Patterson's other adventures in Africa, albeit expect no chilling tales of cannibals and the like, this book is too realistic for that and Patterson is by no means a writer, that is pretty obvious by the fact that some stories later in the book actually happened before or during the events of the man-eaters. And to be frank, when you read the story about them, the rest of the book might be pretty boring. What you read there is certainly interesting and people interested in the time and people of the place will get some nice glimpses into that world, but when you came to read this book solely for the man-eaters, like I did, you might find this book lacking.
So basically I would say that this book is recommendable for reading it as a sort of diary or travel journal, but not as a thriller. The story about the man-eaters would have been great for that, or maybe that is just my overactive imagination at work there, but the rest not so much.
So all in all, I think this is a book that people will have mixed feelings about.
So when I read this book and heard the author's own account of the man-eaters I must say I was pleasantly surprised, and kind of disappointed in the movie. Especially since the lions in the book looked totally different.
Now I was also kind of disappointed with the book. The thing is that I think the title is misleading since the story of the man-eaters is not such a big part of the book and most of it deals with Patterson's other adventures in Africa, albeit expect no chilling tales of cannibals and the like, this book is too realistic for that and Patterson is by no means a writer, that is pretty obvious by the fact that some stories later in the book actually happened before or during the events of the man-eaters. And to be frank, when you read the story about them, the rest of the book might be pretty boring. What you read there is certainly interesting and people interested in the time and people of the place will get some nice glimpses into that world, but when you came to read this book solely for the man-eaters, like I did, you might find this book lacking.
So basically I would say that this book is recommendable for reading it as a sort of diary or travel journal, but not as a thriller. The story about the man-eaters would have been great for that, or maybe that is just my overactive imagination at work there, but the rest not so much.
So all in all, I think this is a book that people will have mixed feelings about.
January 3, 2014
I enjoy reading historical shikar/hunting stories, and after having read all of Jim Corbett and Kenneth Anderson’s writings on Indian shikar, I thought this book on African safari would be an interesting change.
The most striking difference between Corbett & Anderson’s writings, vs this author’s (John H Patterson), is a complete lack of understanding or appreciation for wildlife. While Corbett and Anderson both cared deeply for the animals, shooting mostly man-eaters and even advocating the use of cameras instead of rifles for shooting, Patterson was in the sport just for the trophies.
In the Patterson’s world, it is perfectly fine to see an Ostrich beside a train, and shoot it from inside, and recover the trophy by stopping the train. The book is full of sentences like “I had never seen a zebra before in my life, so I selected the finest specimen and aimed my rifle…”. While Patterson did great service to the labourers by hunting and shooting the man-eating lions, there were countless other lions, non man-eaters, shot by him just for the heck of it. In many of these hunts, Patterson was not satisfied by shooting just one lion, but shot most of the pride. Such wanton slaughter of wildlife just detracts from the readability of this book. Besides, in many cases, Patterson misses his target, wounds the animal and even in some cases leaves the wounded animal without following up. Things that seem to point out that he was an inferior sportsman.
Having said this, I would not discourage anyone from reading the book. It is definitely interesting, and engaging for anyone interested in hunting stories.
The most striking difference between Corbett & Anderson’s writings, vs this author’s (John H Patterson), is a complete lack of understanding or appreciation for wildlife. While Corbett and Anderson both cared deeply for the animals, shooting mostly man-eaters and even advocating the use of cameras instead of rifles for shooting, Patterson was in the sport just for the trophies.
In the Patterson’s world, it is perfectly fine to see an Ostrich beside a train, and shoot it from inside, and recover the trophy by stopping the train. The book is full of sentences like “I had never seen a zebra before in my life, so I selected the finest specimen and aimed my rifle…”. While Patterson did great service to the labourers by hunting and shooting the man-eating lions, there were countless other lions, non man-eaters, shot by him just for the heck of it. In many of these hunts, Patterson was not satisfied by shooting just one lion, but shot most of the pride. Such wanton slaughter of wildlife just detracts from the readability of this book. Besides, in many cases, Patterson misses his target, wounds the animal and even in some cases leaves the wounded animal without following up. Things that seem to point out that he was an inferior sportsman.
Having said this, I would not discourage anyone from reading the book. It is definitely interesting, and engaging for anyone interested in hunting stories.
September 16, 2010
After visiting the Field Museum in Chicago and seeing the pelts from the two infamous lions, The Ghost and The Darkness, I was struck by truly how huge these lions must have been. This is not only a record of an apparently unique natural incident of two lions which appeared to deliberately stalk humans and drag them back to their den to devour, but it is also an example of Victorian colonial expansion coming into conflict with the natural world.
The book is out of print and I had some trouble finding a copy. J.H. Patterson's prose reflects the late 19th Century sensibilities that he carried and reveal the prejudices that he and other European colonialists had towards native Africans and Indian laborers. It is also possible that some of Patterson's claims are exaggerated (as discussed in the excellent editorial introduction to the edition I read).
On the whole, I found that the Man-Eaters of Tsavo provided a unique view of the isolated event of hunting lions as well as a broader view of colonial expansion into Africa.
The book is out of print and I had some trouble finding a copy. J.H. Patterson's prose reflects the late 19th Century sensibilities that he carried and reveal the prejudices that he and other European colonialists had towards native Africans and Indian laborers. It is also possible that some of Patterson's claims are exaggerated (as discussed in the excellent editorial introduction to the edition I read).
On the whole, I found that the Man-Eaters of Tsavo provided a unique view of the isolated event of hunting lions as well as a broader view of colonial expansion into Africa.
August 2, 2011
An interesting book, particularly when looked at from a historical perspective. The film "The Ghost and the Darkness" is based on this book, in which the author talks about his hunting adventures in 19th century British East Africa. The title is a bit deceptive - only about a third or so of the book is actually spent talking about the infamous man-eating lions; the rest are accounts of the author's hunts in Africa. For anyone who does read this, I urge them to do so with the context of time in mind - this was written when the world was a very different place! Don't expect political correctness. And before anyone jumps at the author's preoccupation with killing wildlife (believe me, as a conservationist, I should be the first to condemn that behavior) just remember that much of what we learned of the world's species in that era came from hunters. With that in mind, it's quite enjoyable!
February 25, 2019
Mildly interesting diary of some after work hunting by John Henry Patterson.
Honestly, I would have never of bothered with this if it weren't for the movie The Ghost and The Darkness. Needless to say, I was a little surprised at the difference from book to screen. I shouldn't have been, but was for some reason.
All in all, it was interesting enough, but I noticed in another person's review that they didn't think JHP had a respect or love for animals that other Big Game Hunt writers did. I kind of disagree, I think he did have a respect and love for animals, but that hunting and animals were a past time for him, and thus made him less knowledgeable which translates on the page as love and respect. That is not to say he was an idiot or that he didn't know anything, I just think he was a man who made his living building bridges and rail ways, and hunted for sport and trophies on the side, he wasn't a cruel or GREAT hunter or anything, just a lover of big game.
Honestly, I would have never of bothered with this if it weren't for the movie The Ghost and The Darkness. Needless to say, I was a little surprised at the difference from book to screen. I shouldn't have been, but was for some reason.
All in all, it was interesting enough, but I noticed in another person's review that they didn't think JHP had a respect or love for animals that other Big Game Hunt writers did. I kind of disagree, I think he did have a respect and love for animals, but that hunting and animals were a past time for him, and thus made him less knowledgeable which translates on the page as love and respect. That is not to say he was an idiot or that he didn't know anything, I just think he was a man who made his living building bridges and rail ways, and hunted for sport and trophies on the side, he wasn't a cruel or GREAT hunter or anything, just a lover of big game.
January 29, 2021
The book provides a great account of the lifestyle and happenings of British east Africa in the late 1800s. The book is nicely written; providing for an easy and enjoyable read; with the ease of picking up and putting down at one’s will.
However, it must be noted that the title can be slightly misleading - as that specific quest for the man-eating lions only hosts a portion of the book. The second half tells the author’s story of his remaining time in Africa. This may not be to everyone’s desire, however, I found it interesting. Other hunts take place; with the author encountering other tribes and notable figures.
Overall, I recommended this book. It highlights the conventional lifestyle of the time; whilst also including different tribesmen and figures, who’s presence is forever preserved in this text.
However, it must be noted that the title can be slightly misleading - as that specific quest for the man-eating lions only hosts a portion of the book. The second half tells the author’s story of his remaining time in Africa. This may not be to everyone’s desire, however, I found it interesting. Other hunts take place; with the author encountering other tribes and notable figures.
Overall, I recommended this book. It highlights the conventional lifestyle of the time; whilst also including different tribesmen and figures, who’s presence is forever preserved in this text.
February 5, 2022
Дайте мені ваші вуха і я розкажу вам страшну історію:) Історію, що холодить кров і змушує прислухатись нічних шорохів надворі.
Мемуари полковника Джона Паттерсона «Людожери із Цаво» - це найвизначніші спогади на моїй пам’яті. Але це кажу не я, це американський президент Теодор Рузвельт написав у листі своєму приятелеві. А він дещо знався на пригодах і сам полював на диких звірів. І в принципі я з ним готова погодитись. Бо історія про африканських левів-людожерів, які тероризували будівельників залізничного мосту над річкою Цаво наприкінці дев‘ятнадцятого сторіччя (і не зважаючи на заходи безпеки за короткий проміжок часу вбили 135 людей) вражає і лякає. Адже вона трапилась насправді. І край цьому кривавому розгулу поклала одна людина своєю мужністю і цілеспрямованістю, полковник Джон Паттерсон.
Уявіть, що ви мусите захистити людей, яких щоночі викрадають з ліжок і пожирають леви. Уявіть ці спекотні африканські ночі, сповнені тривоги і страху, згодом чиїмось жахливим лементом та власним ганебним полегшенням, що це - хруст чиїхось чужих кісток. Здається навіть, що це не леви, а демони, їх ніщо не зупиняє: ані вогонь, ані колюча щільна огорожа, ані кулі. Вони чують засідки і обходять їх десятою дорогою. Коли один з левів нарешті потрапляє у спеціально зроблену пастку у вагоні, де за гратами сидять живі приманки - озброєні люди, то ніхто чомусь не може поцілити у хижака і той собі спокійно «тіхо уходіт в лєс», продовжуючи і надалі вбивати людей. А найстрашніше - вони наче висушували тіла, випиваючи з них кров. Леви так не поводяться!
Уявіть, що лише ви можете цьому зарадити, тому ночами наполегливо влаштовуєте засідки на деревах і годинами без сну мокнете під дощем в незручній позі, тримаючи рушницю напоготові. Врешті, прив’язавши козла-приманку, ви сидите в черговій засідці на нашвидкоруч сколоченій високій, та дуже хиткій конструкції і прислухаєтесь.
«Щоб зрозуміти тишу африканських джунглів посеред нічної пітьми її треба пережити: це особливо вражаюче відчуття коли ти ізольований від інших людей сидиш абсолютно сам»
Дерев’яніють ноги, німіють руки, поки я це читала, намагалась не рухатись, аби відчути цю засідку, та не змогла протриматись і півгодини. Окрім того вас хилить у дрімоту, але ціна сну - життя. А зло вже десь причаїлося посеред цілковитої тиші. І полює воно не на прив‘язану жертву, а на вас, зненацька стрибаючи на риштування і розхитуючи його велетенськими могутніми лапами. Мисливець сам перетворюється на дичину. Ви намагаєтесь прицілитись в цей зловісний темний силует внизу, як несподівано отримуєте удар по голові, що паралізує страхом! Це сова переплутала вашу голову з гілкою дерева, звичайна справа у нічних джунглях виявляється.
От скажіть, можна цю книжку просто закрити на таких пригодах, усвідомлюючи що це відбувалось насправді? Ні, і ти сидиш всю ніч читаєш, ледь не згризаючи собі руки по лікоть від нервів)
Маючи потужний сантимент до різних авантюр я багато разів переглядала екранізацію цієї історії, «Привид і темрява» з Велом Кілмером (який власне і грав полковника Паттерсона) та Майклом Дугласом (який грав вигаданого персонажа) в головних ролях. І коли мені трапились мемуари реального полковника я не вагалась анітрохи. Такий скарб: книжка 1928 року з тонесенькими сторінками, розкішно ілюстрована фотографіями самого автора. Я думала, уся вона буде присвячена левам із Цаво, але насправді це лише кілька перших розділів, далі ще багато інших африканських пригод та мисливських анекдотів з життя полковника.
Наприклад, про те, як він зустрівши носорога здуру роздратував його і згодом ховався у високій траві, оглушений власним серцебиттям, втискаючись в землю. Адже в носорога лютий темперамент, поганий зір, а далі - ну ви в курсі, при його вазі це вже не його проблеми. Чи про те, як індійські працівники влаштували заколот зі спробою вбити Паттерсона, імітуючи лева-людожера, а він вже знаючи про це йде просто в натовп злих чоловіків із молотками і несподівано їх роззброює. Знали британці яку людину послати в таке небезпечне місце контролювати будівництво.
Взагалі сторінки цієї книги сповнені такими небезпеками, що мені дивно як у цьому місці люди в принципі змогли щось побудувати і при цьому вижити. Там навіть саме будівництво без води - чистий челендж на виживання. Що вже казати про моменти, коли за вами женеться розлючений слон чи у вагон вдирається черговий лев, хапає в пащеку сонну людину і вистрибує у вікно, завиграшки виламуючи дерев‘яну раму?
В такі моменти особливо дивує витримка Паттерсона, який зберігаючи спокій блискавично прораховує стратегію і прицілюється, усвідомлюючи, що результат залежить від зосередженості.
Це історія з іншої епохи з іншими звичаями та етикою. І хоча я намагаюсь читати без засудження, та все ж деякі розділи неприємно вражали. Наприклад ті, де люди вбивають красивих тварин не задля порятунку людського життя чи для харчування, а просто задля трофеїв, щоб покласти шкуру на підлогу чи повісити голову на стіну, безжально масово винищуючи фауну. Коли ці люди, вважаючи себе цивілізованими на противагу місцевим дикунам, стріляють в живу істоту і милуються її красою, поки вона конає перед ними у судомах. Скажу чесно, в деякі моменти я була цілком на боці лева і сподівалась, що він збере більше трофеїв, ніж мисливці. Та людина в явилась найстрашнішим хижаком.
Тим дивовижніше спостерігати, як еволюціонували британці за якихось сто років від одержимих мисливців до людей на кшталт Девіда Аттенборо, що намагаються зберегти та врятувати наш такий прекрасний і вразливий світ.
І при цьому я б хотіла у небезпечний момент життя мати поруч такого мужнього друга як Джон Паттерсон, з холодною головою та справною рушницею
Мемуари полковника Джона Паттерсона «Людожери із Цаво» - це найвизначніші спогади на моїй пам’яті. Але це кажу не я, це американський президент Теодор Рузвельт написав у листі своєму приятелеві. А він дещо знався на пригодах і сам полював на диких звірів. І в принципі я з ним готова погодитись. Бо історія про африканських левів-людожерів, які тероризували будівельників залізничного мосту над річкою Цаво наприкінці дев‘ятнадцятого сторіччя (і не зважаючи на заходи безпеки за короткий проміжок часу вбили 135 людей) вражає і лякає. Адже вона трапилась насправді. І край цьому кривавому розгулу поклала одна людина своєю мужністю і цілеспрямованістю, полковник Джон Паттерсон.
Уявіть, що ви мусите захистити людей, яких щоночі викрадають з ліжок і пожирають леви. Уявіть ці спекотні африканські ночі, сповнені тривоги і страху, згодом чиїмось жахливим лементом та власним ганебним полегшенням, що це - хруст чиїхось чужих кісток. Здається навіть, що це не леви, а демони, їх ніщо не зупиняє: ані вогонь, ані колюча щільна огорожа, ані кулі. Вони чують засідки і обходять їх десятою дорогою. Коли один з левів нарешті потрапляє у спеціально зроблену пастку у вагоні, де за гратами сидять живі приманки - озброєні люди, то ніхто чомусь не може поцілити у хижака і той собі спокійно «тіхо уходіт в лєс», продовжуючи і надалі вбивати людей. А найстрашніше - вони наче висушували тіла, випиваючи з них кров. Леви так не поводяться!
Уявіть, що лише ви можете цьому зарадити, тому ночами наполегливо влаштовуєте засідки на деревах і годинами без сну мокнете під дощем в незручній позі, тримаючи рушницю напоготові. Врешті, прив’язавши козла-приманку, ви сидите в черговій засідці на нашвидкоруч сколоченій високій, та дуже хиткій конструкції і прислухаєтесь.
«Щоб зрозуміти тишу африканських джунглів посеред нічної пітьми її треба пережити: це особливо вражаюче відчуття коли ти ізольований від інших людей сидиш абсолютно сам»
Дерев’яніють ноги, німіють руки, поки я це читала, намагалась не рухатись, аби відчути цю засідку, та не змогла протриматись і півгодини. Окрім того вас хилить у дрімоту, але ціна сну - життя. А зло вже десь причаїлося посеред цілковитої тиші. І полює воно не на прив‘язану жертву, а на вас, зненацька стрибаючи на риштування і розхитуючи його велетенськими могутніми лапами. Мисливець сам перетворюється на дичину. Ви намагаєтесь прицілитись в цей зловісний темний силует внизу, як несподівано отримуєте удар по голові, що паралізує страхом! Це сова переплутала вашу голову з гілкою дерева, звичайна справа у нічних джунглях виявляється.
От скажіть, можна цю книжку просто закрити на таких пригодах, усвідомлюючи що це відбувалось насправді? Ні, і ти сидиш всю ніч читаєш, ледь не згризаючи собі руки по лікоть від нервів)
Маючи потужний сантимент до різних авантюр я багато разів переглядала екранізацію цієї історії, «Привид і темрява» з Велом Кілмером (який власне і грав полковника Паттерсона) та Майклом Дугласом (який грав вигаданого персонажа) в головних ролях. І коли мені трапились мемуари реального полковника я не вагалась анітрохи. Такий скарб: книжка 1928 року з тонесенькими сторінками, розкішно ілюстрована фотографіями самого автора. Я думала, уся вона буде присвячена левам із Цаво, але насправді це лише кілька перших розділів, далі ще багато інших африканських пригод та мисливських анекдотів з життя полковника.
Наприклад, про те, як він зустрівши носорога здуру роздратував його і згодом ховався у високій траві, оглушений власним серцебиттям, втискаючись в землю. Адже в носорога лютий темперамент, поганий зір, а далі - ну ви в курсі, при його вазі це вже не його проблеми. Чи про те, як індійські працівники влаштували заколот зі спробою вбити Паттерсона, імітуючи лева-людожера, а він вже знаючи про це йде просто в натовп злих чоловіків із молотками і несподівано їх роззброює. Знали британці яку людину послати в таке небезпечне місце контролювати будівництво.
Взагалі сторінки цієї книги сповнені такими небезпеками, що мені дивно як у цьому місці люди в принципі змогли щось побудувати і при цьому вижити. Там навіть саме будівництво без води - чистий челендж на виживання. Що вже казати про моменти, коли за вами женеться розлючений слон чи у вагон вдирається черговий лев, хапає в пащеку сонну людину і вистрибує у вікно, завиграшки виламуючи дерев‘яну раму?
В такі моменти особливо дивує витримка Паттерсона, який зберігаючи спокій блискавично прораховує стратегію і прицілюється, усвідомлюючи, що результат залежить від зосередженості.
Це історія з іншої епохи з іншими звичаями та етикою. І хоча я намагаюсь читати без засудження, та все ж деякі розділи неприємно вражали. Наприклад ті, де люди вбивають красивих тварин не задля порятунку людського життя чи для харчування, а просто задля трофеїв, щоб покласти шкуру на підлогу чи повісити голову на стіну, безжально масово винищуючи фауну. Коли ці люди, вважаючи себе цивілізованими на противагу місцевим дикунам, стріляють в живу істоту і милуються її красою, поки вона конає перед ними у судомах. Скажу чесно, в деякі моменти я була цілком на боці лева і сподівалась, що він збере більше трофеїв, ніж мисливці. Та людина в явилась найстрашнішим хижаком.
Тим дивовижніше спостерігати, як еволюціонували британці за якихось сто років від одержимих мисливців до людей на кшталт Девіда Аттенборо, що намагаються зберегти та врятувати наш такий прекрасний і вразливий світ.
І при цьому я б хотіла у небезпечний момент життя мати поруч такого мужнього друга як Джон Паттерсон, з холодною головою та справною рушницею
December 11, 2022
If you have taken the path of hunting in your life this is a must read. An amazing story of a man named John Henry Patterson and his almost in possible obstacles with building the Uganda Railroad construction, and hunting down two of the most vicious man eating lions on the East African plains. It's an absolute if you are fan of the movie "The Ghost and The Darkness." The book proceeds after the hunt for the lions are killed and tells a tale of even more adventures with some big trophy animals and near death experiences.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 30, 2020
Terrifying story of a bridge-builder who is forced to become a monster hunter.
It drags a bit. I prefer the 40-page version he wrote in 1925 for the Field Museum. A pdf of this leaflet is available.
It drags a bit. I prefer the 40-page version he wrote in 1925 for the Field Museum. A pdf of this leaflet is available.
October 11, 2023
This is the primary recorded accounts of 'The Ghost' and 'The Darkness', two man eating Lions that hunted and fed on colonial railway workers back in the early 1900s.
As part of a larger collective journal by Patterson, this book details not just the events surrounding this unusual real life horror story (making up about the first 1/3 of the book) but Patterson's many other adventures and experiences in Africa.
This first section is a fascinating read, and works as a great piece of horror literature in its own right. The rest of the book is sadly a little less exciting, although no less interesting if you want to hear exactly what it was like to be a rich white explorer pressing the frontiers of the last great romantic age of exploration, piff helmet and kharki shorts on, shotgun in hand.
Patterson is clearly educated and quite charismatic- he speaks many languages, is a diplomat and a gentleman, a workman and has a taste for culture and adventure. He goes to dangerous places and shrugs off the various discomforts of a foreign wilderness with energetic positivity that's unusual considering his class.
Although he often refers to the natives as 'savages' he speaks honestly and often fondly of the foriegn cultures and peoples, and treats them with the same open minded positivity he treats most encounters.
Patterson IS a product of his very different times though, and whilst he is clearly fascinated in the exotic wildlife he is even more happy to enjoy their beauty after he has shot them all and turned them into a variety of home decor. As a drinking game try taking a shot every time Patterson admires a particularly fine animal specimen in the wild before whipping out his trusty .303 and 'bagging it'.
Look, it's not very nice but 120+ years ago we didn't care about endangered species or have widespread, decent cameras. The best way to show an exotic animal to your friends was to murder it and have the good bits mounted in your front room. Patterson shows to be a bit of an enigma on the subject- He shows a great appreciation for zoology. He tries using a camera several times, but the film always spoils or development fails. He sees and marvels at various animals including a pair of Giraffe, letting them go unhurt. He also shows regret whenever he does not cleanly kill his targets- he doesn't want them to suffer. On the other hand he also show a heavy disregard for life- shooting Snakes point blank, shooting an Ostrich from a moving train and often 'bagging' his way through as many Savannah trophies as his servents can carry. I had no trouble with sitting in the mindset of the times, but did chuckle at the amount of hides, horns and heads Patterson must have emassed!
Animal murder aside this is still a great bit of historical autobiography from a time difficult to imagine in 2023.
As part of a larger collective journal by Patterson, this book details not just the events surrounding this unusual real life horror story (making up about the first 1/3 of the book) but Patterson's many other adventures and experiences in Africa.
This first section is a fascinating read, and works as a great piece of horror literature in its own right. The rest of the book is sadly a little less exciting, although no less interesting if you want to hear exactly what it was like to be a rich white explorer pressing the frontiers of the last great romantic age of exploration, piff helmet and kharki shorts on, shotgun in hand.
Patterson is clearly educated and quite charismatic- he speaks many languages, is a diplomat and a gentleman, a workman and has a taste for culture and adventure. He goes to dangerous places and shrugs off the various discomforts of a foreign wilderness with energetic positivity that's unusual considering his class.
Although he often refers to the natives as 'savages' he speaks honestly and often fondly of the foriegn cultures and peoples, and treats them with the same open minded positivity he treats most encounters.
Patterson IS a product of his very different times though, and whilst he is clearly fascinated in the exotic wildlife he is even more happy to enjoy their beauty after he has shot them all and turned them into a variety of home decor. As a drinking game try taking a shot every time Patterson admires a particularly fine animal specimen in the wild before whipping out his trusty .303 and 'bagging it'.
Look, it's not very nice but 120+ years ago we didn't care about endangered species or have widespread, decent cameras. The best way to show an exotic animal to your friends was to murder it and have the good bits mounted in your front room. Patterson shows to be a bit of an enigma on the subject- He shows a great appreciation for zoology. He tries using a camera several times, but the film always spoils or development fails. He sees and marvels at various animals including a pair of Giraffe, letting them go unhurt. He also shows regret whenever he does not cleanly kill his targets- he doesn't want them to suffer. On the other hand he also show a heavy disregard for life- shooting Snakes point blank, shooting an Ostrich from a moving train and often 'bagging' his way through as many Savannah trophies as his servents can carry. I had no trouble with sitting in the mindset of the times, but did chuckle at the amount of hides, horns and heads Patterson must have emassed!
Animal murder aside this is still a great bit of historical autobiography from a time difficult to imagine in 2023.
December 29, 2025
Many years ago when I was a schoolboy in primary school I remember our teacher telling us tales of lions that stalked the workmen involved in the building of the Uganda Railway making away with a victim despite the best efforts to stop them. At some point the construction was halted as most workers fled the Tsavo area chosing not to be dinner for lions no matter what the pay was...The abiding question I had from then was why the lions could do that easily and we know even the communites who lived around that area had the knowledge to build better shelter, I found the answer in this book.
The desire to read this came from a recent visit to the Nairobi Railway museum. I had mostly gone there to witness the bloom of Jacaranda trees in relatively quiet environs, the tall majestic trees in a purple hue standing guard for a wall lined up with the most beautiful graffiti compilation of various artists, it was a beautiful sight, on a whim I chose to go to the actual museum. It's an interesting place with locomotive engines from various eras, wagons from bygone years and the building had an interesting collection of artifacts including some claws from the actual man eating lions. This piqued my interest and I went looking for this book.
The book served its purpose, it was a retelling of the tale by the actual man who killed the lions. A measured tale that was devoid of embelishment and which at some point downplayed the actual danger Patterson was actually in. This was in the late 1890s ,early 1900s and the guns relied upon to hunt these apex predators were not as powerful as their modern cousins requiring the gunman to get very close to the intended target for his shots to prove lethal. One misfire or gun jamming would have rendered the hunter being the hunted and on some occasion Patterson escaped through a stroke of pure luck. In addition to learning about the tale of the killing of the lions I also learnt about how the Kenyan landscape was in the previous millenium, how the tribes interacted with each other and how they handled the coming of the white man, that part was equally fascinating as the lion hunt itself. This is one of those niche reads, something has to lead you here and I am afraid my recomendation alone might not be sufficient.
The desire to read this came from a recent visit to the Nairobi Railway museum. I had mostly gone there to witness the bloom of Jacaranda trees in relatively quiet environs, the tall majestic trees in a purple hue standing guard for a wall lined up with the most beautiful graffiti compilation of various artists, it was a beautiful sight, on a whim I chose to go to the actual museum. It's an interesting place with locomotive engines from various eras, wagons from bygone years and the building had an interesting collection of artifacts including some claws from the actual man eating lions. This piqued my interest and I went looking for this book.
The book served its purpose, it was a retelling of the tale by the actual man who killed the lions. A measured tale that was devoid of embelishment and which at some point downplayed the actual danger Patterson was actually in. This was in the late 1890s ,early 1900s and the guns relied upon to hunt these apex predators were not as powerful as their modern cousins requiring the gunman to get very close to the intended target for his shots to prove lethal. One misfire or gun jamming would have rendered the hunter being the hunted and on some occasion Patterson escaped through a stroke of pure luck. In addition to learning about the tale of the killing of the lions I also learnt about how the Kenyan landscape was in the previous millenium, how the tribes interacted with each other and how they handled the coming of the white man, that part was equally fascinating as the lion hunt itself. This is one of those niche reads, something has to lead you here and I am afraid my recomendation alone might not be sufficient.
June 9, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Real life documentation of the man eating lions of tsavo written by the hunter who slain them himself.
After watching “The Ghost & The Darkness” I was dying to know more about the man eating lions of tsavo. I put myself on quite the waiting list for the book written by John Henry Patterson the man tasked to traveling to Tsavo to help construct a bridge but ended up encountering 2 huge male lions that terrorized his group of workers. Making off with close to 40 people who they devoured sometimes just feet away from camp. I found Pattersons journals super interesting. He describes the lions, the fear and terror they brought with them, and then how Patterson killed them both. The problem is the story of the man eaters ends at about the 40% mark. The rest of the book is Patterson describing his treck around Africa. The multiple animals he encounters and the tribes he befriends. All of which i found super interesting and enjoyed reading (there were pictures too!). The problem was at the end of the day, Patterson was a big game hunter, and hunt he did. It just became distasteful after a point with amount of wildlife he was killing (I’m talking shooting 2-3 lions A DAY). The total disregard for nature and exotic wildlife made me as the reader start to want Patterson to get mauled by a lion before he left Africa. In the end, I got what I was looking for which was a detailed account of the lions attacks and how they terrorized a group of over 100 men. It’s quite the story, but if that’s all the reader is interested in they can stop reading at about 40% through this book.
Real life documentation of the man eating lions of tsavo written by the hunter who slain them himself.
After watching “The Ghost & The Darkness” I was dying to know more about the man eating lions of tsavo. I put myself on quite the waiting list for the book written by John Henry Patterson the man tasked to traveling to Tsavo to help construct a bridge but ended up encountering 2 huge male lions that terrorized his group of workers. Making off with close to 40 people who they devoured sometimes just feet away from camp. I found Pattersons journals super interesting. He describes the lions, the fear and terror they brought with them, and then how Patterson killed them both. The problem is the story of the man eaters ends at about the 40% mark. The rest of the book is Patterson describing his treck around Africa. The multiple animals he encounters and the tribes he befriends. All of which i found super interesting and enjoyed reading (there were pictures too!). The problem was at the end of the day, Patterson was a big game hunter, and hunt he did. It just became distasteful after a point with amount of wildlife he was killing (I’m talking shooting 2-3 lions A DAY). The total disregard for nature and exotic wildlife made me as the reader start to want Patterson to get mauled by a lion before he left Africa. In the end, I got what I was looking for which was a detailed account of the lions attacks and how they terrorized a group of over 100 men. It’s quite the story, but if that’s all the reader is interested in they can stop reading at about 40% through this book.
September 8, 2025
Only about a quarter of the book is dedicated to the Tsavo lion events (which were the subject of the 1990s movie Ghost and the Darkness). The remaining passages are very similar to Hemingway’s The Green Hills of Africa, mainly giving accounts of big game hunting. Interestingly this is also in the Kenya area Hemingway traversed, but over 30 years earlier. Much like Hemingway’s book, I find the stories intriguing, yet nauseating. These big game hunters apparently just shot / “bagged” anything which breathed for trophies. I saw some of the heads of the animals Hemingway killed, as they are still mounted in his house in Key West. Claiming shooting these majestic animals from afar as a “sport” is something I will never understand, and admittedly was rooting for the animals to prevail in these stories, by any means necessary.
June 26, 2022
I got this book as a Christmas present from a good friend. He knew I loved the movie The Ghost and the Darkness, and since this book tells the first person account from which that movie was crafted it seemed a natural choice to give to me. And it did not disappoint, at least the parts about the man-eaters. More than half of this book was about topic related to the railroad crossing portions of Africa, but the best parts were the parts about the hunting of the lions. Great suspense and great story-recounting. The rest was just so-so and not to interesting. I need to go back and watch that movie now!!
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