Big Game Hunting

The novel Big Game Hunting follows four generations of the Aspinall family through the turbulent events of the twentieth century. Their story traces a path from British East Africa through two world wars to the streets of Vancouver. Richard Aspinall establishes the family legacy as a big game hunter in colonial Kenya, setting in motion a series of choices that echo through the decades. His descendants find themselves caught between preservation and destruction, inheritance and reinvention, while navigating their relationships with the land and its creatures. The interwoven lives of the Aspinalls raise questions about humanity's impact on the natural world and the cost of clinging to tradition. Their experiences reveal the shifting perspectives on hunting, colonialism, and conservation across nearly a hundred years of social change.

There are not enough internet reviews to create a summary of this book. Instead, here is a summary of reviews of Neil Smith's overall work: Readers praise Smith's direct and clear explanations of complex urban processes. Many find his "rent gap" analysis helps explain neighborhood changes they observe. Academic reviewers highlight his skill at connecting abstract theory to concrete examples. Many appreciate his political commitment and unflinching critique of market-driven urban development. One Goodreads reviewer noted: "Smith doesn't pretend to be neutral - he shows how gentrification actively harms communities." Common criticisms include: - Dense academic language in some sections - Limited discussion of potential solutions - Focus mainly on US/UK examples - Some readers find his Marxist perspective too rigid Ratings: - Goodreads: The New Urban Frontier averages 4.2/5 stars (216 ratings) - Amazon: Uneven Development averages 4.4/5 stars (28 ratings) - Google Scholar: His works are heavily cited in academic literature, with "The New Urban Frontier" cited over 8,000 times Student reviewers frequently mention using his work in urban studies courses and finding it relevant to current city issues.

Heart of the Hunt by Jim Carmichel A veteran hunter chronicles dangerous encounters with African big game across four decades of safaris and expeditions.

Death in the Long Grass by Peter Hathaway Capstick A professional hunter recounts true stories of tracking dangerous game through the African bush and surviving close encounters with lions, leopards, and elephants.

Horn of the Hunter by Robert Ruark The account follows a first safari through Tanganyika as a novice hunter learns the ways of tracking and taking Africa's most formidable species.

African Game Trails by Theodore Roosevelt The former president documents his year-long African expedition collecting specimens for the Smithsonian while pursuing the continent's most challenging game animals.

The Man-Eaters of Tsavo by John Henry Patterson A British officer details his hunt for two lions that killed dozens of railway workers in Kenya during the building of the Uganda railway in 1898.

🎯 During the height of big game hunting in Africa, professional hunters like Philip Percival (who inspired Hemingway's writings) could charge up to $300 per day in the 1920s—equivalent to over $4,000 today. 🦁 The term "Big Five" (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo) was coined by early game hunters based not on size, but on how difficult and dangerous these animals were to hunt on foot. 📚 Author Neil Smith spent over 20 years researching historical hunting expeditions, including accessing private collections and previously unpublished journals of famous hunters. 🔫 Theodore Roosevelt's 1909 African hunting expedition collected over 11,400 specimens for the Smithsonian Institution, many of which are still used for scientific research today. 🌍 The book explores how early hunting expeditions, despite their controversial nature, contributed significantly to wildlife conservation by documenting species and establishing protected areas in Africa.