The great safari : the lives of George and Joy Adamson /

The Adamsons were undoubtedly the most celebrated and effective champions of wildlife the world has ever known, and Elsa the lioness, the subject of Joy's best-selling book, 'Born Free' was undouubtedly the most famous lion. The Adamsons' public image, mediated through their books and films, was one of loving co-operation in a second Eden: the reality, as revealed in Adrian House's fascinating double biography, was much more interesting and more volatile. Drawing on diaries, letters, unpublished drafts, the reminiscences of those who knew the Adamsons well and not least on his own experience as an editor of the Adamsons' books for more than 30 years, Adrain House reveals the intense, complicated, passionate, exhilariting and exasperating individuals behind the myth the world was happy to accept.

"House writes brilliantly...Above all he does justice to the Adamsons' astonishing joint achievement. They changed the world's attitude not only to lions, but to all wildlife. They showed that animals besides man need love and space, have complex emotions and deserve the rights which flow from being born free"

RICHARD HELLER'Sunday Express'

"This is no Cinderella story of high-minded naturalists achieving fame and fortune. It is engrossing...But it is also a tale of unhappy passion"

ANTONIA FRASER, 'Mail on Sunday'

"A fascinating read"

J.D.F. JONES, 'Financial Times'

"The material here on wildlife is amazing, but the human lifestyle is more amazing still"

CAROLYN SEE, 'Washington Post'

"This book is a wonderful adventure story"

ANNE ROBINSON, 'Sunday Times'