Finman Posted April 15, 2008 Report Share Posted April 15, 2008 In a recent trip to America, I found in a bookshop the books of PH Capstick. These may be well known to some, but I had never heard of the man before that time. I just started reading 'Death in Silent Places' and this is what he says in his foreword: 'Capsulised as we are in a world in which our electronically vicarious thrils and Holywoodised 'nature' shows are served up over the flash-frozen, microwave-revived, mass-prepared corpse of a some long-dead chicken in its disposable alyminum coffin, segmented by insipid feminine-hygiene product commercials, it is not all that easy to remember- let alone relate to- the fact that we once were, and still are, hunters. As in predators. Because of our largely urbanised existence, I suspect that some readers may find this book gory. In our carefully insulated world of the west, genuinely violent death and its aftermath are visual rarities, although even a few hours of any evening on any network will provide an almost unbelievable casualty list of shooting, explosion, strangling, poisoning, drowning and more thoughtfully disposed-of victims. But not real death. In our society that inevitability is neatly and sanitarily packaged in obituaries, memorial services and cheques to charities which seem to vie for evermore unpronounceable and dreaded diseases to stamp out. Alas, death is not so neat in the silent places...' I read a lot and this is one of the more eloquently phrased summary of what I have felt for a long time, so I thought I'd share it with you. Who knows, some of you may also share similar thoughts. best wishes, Finman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charly hunter Posted April 15, 2008 Report Share Posted April 15, 2008 All sounds a bit deep for me, I'd rather read "Sniper One" now that's a damn good read. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob tail Posted April 15, 2008 Report Share Posted April 15, 2008 Sounds like a good read too me and worth checking out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finman Posted April 15, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 15, 2008 All sounds a bit deep for me, I'd rather read "Sniper One" now that's a damn good read. Charly, not deep at all, just eloquent... If you dissect what Capstick put on paper from the excerpt that i put in the message, you will probably uncover the root of thinking which makes us cautious to discuss our sport, and unwilling to accept gun ownership in a society which hides behind its own finger pretending that these things are not part of their lives... that said Sniper One was a good read.... Finman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOP_PREDATOR Posted April 16, 2008 Report Share Posted April 16, 2008 You had never heard of PHC??? "Death in the long grass" was his first book and is a must read. Robert Ruark's books are a great read too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddieb Posted April 16, 2008 Report Share Posted April 16, 2008 Brilliant books by Capstick. Recommended read for anyone interested in hunting and Africa. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarinePMI Posted April 16, 2008 Report Share Posted April 16, 2008 In the vein of "talking about our sport" that FinMan alluded to, I'd recommend another book that (IMO) is well worth the read. It is titled "A Hunter's Heart". I believe "English" on this board has a copy I gave him when he last visited me in the States. Very thought provoking about why we hunt, and spawns a bit of soul searching that is inline with the mantra that started this thread. JMTCW... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finman Posted April 16, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 16, 2008 In the vein of "talking about our sport" that FinMan alluded to, I'd recommend another book that (IMO) is well worth the read. It is titled "A Hunter's Heart". I believe "English" on this board has a copy I gave him when he last visited me in the States. Very thought provoking about why we hunt, and spawns a bit of soul searching that is inline with the mantra that started this thread. JMTCW... Marine PMI would you be so kind as to let us know the full reference of this book, so that it is traceable through Amazon and the like. I am sure English likes his copy and would not wish to share with the whole of the group membership Kind regards Finman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarinePMI Posted April 16, 2008 Report Share Posted April 16, 2008 FinMan, Sure thing! A Hunter's Heart: Honest Essays on Blood Sport Hope you guys enjoy it as much as I did. OAN, I am always surprised (and envious) at how much more those in the UK and parts of Europe value books and reading. Sadly, in today's US most kids just want 5 min sound bites, and RSS feed snippets. Its refreshing to know there are still those who place value on taking the time to read, digest and contemplate the contents of physical book. To be honest though, I was shocked at what books cost in the UK (needless to say I was driving an hour to Lakenheath/Mildenhall to use the book store on base). Sorry, I'm rambling... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarinePMI Posted April 16, 2008 Report Share Posted April 16, 2008 An excerpt from the above mentioned book that I rather enjoy (in addition to my signature quote)... "...I realized one evening, after the bird was gone, after the leaves had settled, after I had stood for what must have been a very long time, that I was waiting for something: a half-forgotten sound, a memory, an echo. So it came to be, it came to pass, that one day last autumn I picked up my gun and I went hunting--excused myself from the audience and took up, once again, my old part, on a new stage, in a drama I recalled so well. I hunted all day with confidence and when the Great Moment came, discovered that both my heart and my mind were connected as truly as a line drawn between two points. I fired twice. With what results? The answer lies between me and the echo." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finman Posted April 17, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 17, 2008 FinMan, Sure thing! A Hunter's Heart: Honest Essays on Blood Sport Hope you guys enjoy it as much as I did. OAN, I am always surprised (and envious) at how much more those in the UK and parts of Europe value books and reading. thank you Marine PMI always welcome a suggestion for a good book! I shall check this one out soon. Not reading does to one's brain what not eating does to one's stomach... Finman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kip270 Posted April 17, 2008 Report Share Posted April 17, 2008 I've got Capstick on Video, he sure knew his stuff. His book Death in the Long Grass, loved it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotch_egg Posted April 17, 2008 Report Share Posted April 17, 2008 All sounds a bit deep for me, I'd rather read "Sniper One" now that's a damn good read. I have just read this, really enjoyed it. Well worth a read. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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