{DOWNLOAD} Born Free: a Lioness of Two Worlds

BORN FREE: A LIONESS OF TWO WORLDS PDF, EPUB, EBOOK

Illustrated with the same beautiful, evocative photographs that first enchanted the world forty years ago. Sign up for our newsletter. You'll receive the latest on books we've acquired, street markets we will be attending, upcoming events and even special promotions! Add to Basket Ask a Question. See all items by Joy Adamson. Follow us on Instagram to get a glimpse of what's going on now at Bleak House Books. Like us on Facebook! We only share news and stories that are of interest to our readers. Check all categories that are of interest to you. Jan 09, Jami rated it liked it Shelves: animal-books , classics. While I loved Elsa's story and enjoyed most of the pictures in the book, this was not the heartwarming story I remember from my childhood. I love Elsa, but I really didn't like the Adamsons. It may be because I keep comparing them to Lawrence Anthony, another conservationist, and I find that Mr. Anthony seemed to have more respect for the animals' right to exist in their environment. I couldn't lose sight of the fact that Elsa was orphaned because he killed her mother thinking she was a male lio While I loved Elsa's story and enjoyed most of the pictures in the book, this was not the heartwarming story I remember from my childhood. I couldn't lose sight of the fact that Elsa was orphaned because he killed her mother thinking she was a male lion, leaving the three cubs without a mother. I was confused at her reference to "beating" Elsa when she tracked a donkey, which was a purely natural instinct, and not three pages later, said that they never used force with her. In my opinion, a beating counts as force, but maybe that's just me. Finally, I can't help but think how cruel it was to Elsa to keep sneaking off and leaving her when she was sleeping. They keep reappearing and disappearing - I'm not sure that helped her adapt to the wild or simply increased her confusion about where she belonged. She didn't know why the people she loved kept abandoning her and then returning and then repeating the process. One thing I got a chuckle out of was when they returned to Elsa for a three day period several times, and when she got to know the signs they were preparing to leave, she turned her face away from them. My 16 yr old shih-tzu does the same thing when I leave for work! She'll give me kisses whenever I ask, as she is a kisser. But, when I'm off to work, she knows - when I go to kiss her, she whips her face away and refuses to kiss me. When I come home after work, well, that's a different story! View all 8 comments. I was just coming into my teens when I first saw the film Born Free , and along with almost everyone else, was overwhelmed by the idea: the passion and the trauma involved. Most people now know the story of a female lion cub, who was raised in captivity, and then returned to the wild. I rushed out and bought a copy of the true story as soon as I could. This is that edition, dating from , and I was just coming into my teens when I first saw the film Born Free , and along with almost everyone else, was overwhelmed by the idea: the passion and the trauma involved. This is that edition, dating from , and the first part of what had become a trilogy. Together, they had made this remarkable story happen in real life. I loved this book but as with all small paperbacks, the photographs contained seem a bit too small. They are all in monochrome, as the first edition of the book dates from , and this was normal practice for the time. All three books had an significant impact on wildlife conservation and attitudes to the environment. I have read the book and watched the film many times over the years. I now own a composite, unillustrated Large Print volume, including all three parts. View all 4 comments. Sep 18, Joanne Moyer rated it really liked it Shelves: fantastical-felines , books-read-in I saw the movie Born Free as a child and loved it. I probably read the book along the way too but as usual don't remember. The story of Elsa and the Adamsons is still an amazing one of love and devotion between a wild animal and her 'pride', George and Joy Adamson. The descriptions of where and how they lived is really interesting as it's a way of life not many will ever experience. View all 7 comments. Shelves: me. You saw the movie, you sang the song, you begged mother for the vinyl, and she bought you the book as a surprise. Elsa had all our hearts back then, and her was amazing and truly free in the end. It was the Feel Good story of the decade. What better message to save the Earth? Oct 12, W rated it liked it Shelves: biography. The story of a lion cub,raised in captivity,and returned to the wild,and the couple who made it happen. View 2 comments. Shelves: biography , around-the-world , young-adult , memoir , non-fiction , ultimate-reading-list , science. This is the book the film was based upon, the story of Elsa the lioness, hand raised by a Senior Game Warden and his wife, Joy Adamson, and later released into the wild. This would be rated five stars except that I really try to be stingy with those. The book didn't make me cry, laugh-out-loud or change my thinking, and Adamson, while she writes well and fluently, doesn't have the impressive, lyrical prose of Beryl Markham and Isak Dinesen, two other European women who wrote celebrated memoirs a This is the book the film was based upon, the story of Elsa the lioness, hand raised by a Senior Game Warden and his wife, Joy Adamson, and later released into the wild. The book didn't make me cry, laugh-out-loud or change my thinking, and Adamson, while she writes well and fluently, doesn't have the impressive, lyrical prose of Beryl Markham and Isak Dinesen, two other European women who wrote celebrated memoirs about their time in Kenya. But what this book does offer is what a friend of mine called a "lost art:" The ability to write about an animal without treacly sentimentality but rather with sharp and insightful observations that make their personality evident and in this case lovable without a narcissistic focus on the writer and without an evident heavy-handed political agenda. Not that it hasn't had such a political effect. Not that Elsa could ever be called a captive lion. That's what made her happy ending possible. She was never confined, never treated with brutality in an attempt to dominate. Even after successfully released into the wild, when the Adamsons came to visit her she'd recognize and greet them with affection. As Joy Adamson put it, their relationship continued "to be one of absolute equality quite different from that between a dog and his master. It was a pleasure to read and I highly recommend it--especially for lovers of animals and nature. Mar 10, Reindert Van Zwaal rated it liked it. The story was remarkable and I really enjoyed the bonding between a newly born lion and humans. However, the storytelling wasn't that good. It was merely a enumeration of events instead of a tale that is being told. I planned to read all three installments, but I will leave it at the first one, for I cannot get myself up to reading two more books of enumerations. A story of Elsa a lion cub raised and loved by Joy and George. A telling of the hardship for both Elsa and her human family. It seemed at times to be unattainable and a failure. The life for Elsa was torn between that of being a pet or living a free life in the wild as she was meant to have. The steps in her life are told in many fun and hard adventures. Elsa finally is her own lioness but she never forgets her human family. Elsa's story started the wild animal rights to live wild and free and e A story of Elsa a lion cub raised and loved by Joy and George. Elsa's story started the wild animal rights to live wild and free and ends in a very real legacy left by both Elsa and the Adamson's. Adamson's writing flows like a conversation between friends. The adventures with Elsa touch you in a very special way that true stories usually do. I had moments of laughter and smiles as well as tears. Side note: This was not their first and only encounter with lions. George brought the lion and Africa back into the life of Christian A Lion Called Christian: The True Story of the Remarkable Bond Between Two Friends and a Lion born in a pen and displayed at Harrod's until two men rescued Christian as a cub, kept him till he was too big and finally also returned him to live the life of freedom with the help of George Adamson's capable hands. May 13, Lisa Vegan rated it it was amazing Recommends it for: anyone who loves animals, especially lions, or has any interest in Africa, everyone. Shelves: nature , readbooks-female-author-or-illust , z , zz-5star , cats , reviewed , non-fiction , biography. I cannot remember how many times I reread this book; it was many. I also enjoyed Living Free and Forever Free although not quite as much, but it would have been impossible for me to not read those sequels as I would have been painfully curious about how the story continues. The story of Elsa the lioness and her humans and Kenya was completely engrossing. I read it first when I was about 12 and it got me interested I cannot remember how many times I reread this book; it was many. I read it first when I was about 12 and it got me interested in Africa and conservation. And lions. Adamson does a terrific job of telling a very personal story and also educating about the bigger picture. A captivating read. View all 6 comments. Jan 01, LibraryCin rated it really liked it Shelves: biography , animals , lions , africa. I love animals, and it would be a dream come true to bond with a wild animal like Joy and her husband George did. It was an easy read, and there were lots of wonderful photos. What a fabulous lion Elsa was - she learned to live with other wild lions, but at the same time, she was gentle and always careful around her human caretakers, who she seemed to love just as much as they loved her. I read this when I was a child and remember loving it. Would love to read it again someday. Apr 07, Robin Reynolds rated it it was amazing. He then found her three young cubs and felt great remorse at having killed their mother and took them home. Two of the cubs were eventually sent to a zoo, but the smallest, Elsa, stayed on as a member of the household. The bond between Elsa and the Adamsons is incredible. While raising Elsa as a pet, they rarely kept her penned up or chained and gave her a lot of freedom to still act like a lion. She was very loving and affectionate to them, and to other people who came into contact with her. When the time inevitably came, Joy and George made the hard decision to release Elsa into the wild. After finding a suitable location, they spent a lot of time teaching Elsa to hunt for herself. They would make camp, spend time with Elsa, and then leave her on her own for a day, then a couple of days, then a week at a time. She was always happy to see them on their return, while at the same time growing more and more self-sufficient. Even after being in the wild on her own for several months, Elsa would still get very excited when George and Joy visited her, showing them much affection and wanting to play with them. But she also grew more independent, and began to show signs of wanting them to leave her alone, and her transition from family pet to wild lioness was successful. A heartwarming and well written story, with lots of pictures in my edition of the book anyway , and now I want to watch the movie again. Mar 15, L. This was a memoir I read in my youth, perhaps the first, and it remains with me to this day. Joy Adamson's story of returning an orphaned lion who had been raised as a pet to the wild is heartbreaking, heartwarming, and hopeful. It's also a peek at East Africa in the s. All around, a good and emotional read. May 09, Iskreads rated it it was amazing Shelves: 7th-sims. One of the people lucky enough to experience this was Joy Adamson, the author of the book. Just being in a Safari car on a bumpy road is all worth it, even in tall grass never knowing what is coming around the corner. But as long as the truck is moving you can never take even a half decent picture, and when searching for lions, its just part of the adventure. But Joy Adamson never had to do that she could almost always walk out onto her porch and let her pet lion Elsa suck her thumb. This incredible story is of a lioness that starts with the very beginning of its life. I have lived in Africa for about 3 years and have never heard anything like it until reading this awe-inspiring book. Although she originally had three lions she gave the bigger two out into a zoo in London after they were old enough to care for themselves. The smaller one, Elsa, was too reliant on people for food so they kept her. When she was around two years old, they tried to release her gradually but failed. Could they do it and release her with ease? Graham W. May 19, Tweedledum rated it it was amazing Shelves: animals , autobiography , gr-review. The book that perhaps did most to inspire a generation to learn more about natural history and to support the work of conservation. When the film of Born Free was made it was. I must have been about 8 or 9 when I first saw it and I have never forgotten it. To read Joy's own words as she talks about Elsa and her cubs is a very moving experience. Of course Jot Adamson was a driven woman who often or roughshod over the feelings of those nearest to her, but this should not dimi The book that perhaps did most to inspire a generation to learn more about natural history and to support the work of conservation. Of course Jot Adamson was a driven woman who often or roughshod over the feelings of those nearest to her, but this should not diminish her vision and achievements. Her tragic death, murdered by someone who knew her for a while overshadowed this but as time recedes we can out that too into a clearer perspective. Joy's voice continues to rise off the page as we follow her soul searching.. Oct 02, Amalie rated it it was amazing Shelves: animals , journals-diaries-essays , biography , africa. An orphaned lion cub, the weakest of the litter that grew up into a beautiful lioness named Elsa, who got involved in many adventures with her foster parents. Oh, my goodness, how did I forget this one!!! Aug 12, Kirsty Noah-whitlock rated it liked it. Bit of a hard one to review. I love Elsas story but not entirely agreeable with Joy and George, just because of some of the animals they killed for no reason to be honest. At times I felt like giving up on the book for this reason but I'm going to continue the trilogy and try reading Living Free to see how Elsas journey continues. I may even get a liking for Joy and Else you never know, watch this space xx. I read this when I was young, and made me cry my eyes out. I still think of this book. Nov 16, Neve added it. It retells the experience Joy and her husband George as they raised Elsa for three years. Throughout the story they travel on safaris and introduce Elsa to the natural world. Joy and Elsa develop a mother-daughter like relationship that lasts a lifetime. I was not a fan of this story because it did not seem coherently written and if it was published now, it would look more like someone's blog rather than a story. Joy is both the author and one of the main characters, and she goes off on tangents about loosely relevant topics, such as a safari she once went on with Pati the rock hyrax before she found Elsa. The plot of the book seemed all over the place at times; it would just jump to an only slightly relevant topic. Additionally, often entire chapters seemed pointless and not relevant to the story. The most prominent example of this is the third chapter "Elsa Goes to the Indian Ocean" where Joy and George took Elsa to the beach when she turned a year old. This chapter adds nothing to the story except for a plot point that is quickly resolved in the next chapter and the fact that Elsa was playful with the other animals, which was already shown in the second chapter. I was not impressed. Despite the unfortunate writing style, Born Free echoes the theme of an unbreakable mother-daughter bond, which is displayed through the relationship between Joy and Elsa. This was highlighted when they were temporarily separated at various points throughout the story. Elsa cried when she missed Joy. Whereas, Joy couldn't keep Elsa and the safety of her well-being out of her thoughts. This theme is woven throughout the story and it's incredibly heartwarming to hear Joy and Elsa care for each other in their times of need. Since she narrated with the perspective of herself as a main character, she constantly portrays herself and Elsa as perfect and omniscient and incapable of doing anything wrong, which can get slightly annoying. The only fault of Elsa that Joy recognizes is Elsa's lack of independence, but Joy would rather Elsa not be independent, and stay with her forever. Finally, something I really liked and appreciated about this book was the abundance of pictures. They help clear things up in the story when Joy got distracted on a tangent. However, the pictures were not evenly distributed and a chapter could be six pages of no pictures, and then five pages where three and a half of the pages were pictures. This was only slightly bothersome as it is understandable for the pictures to be formatted this was as they were taken over fifty years ago. The pictures also made the book seem a lot shorter because half of every chapter is pictures and the book is only pages in total. Despite some annoyances in the writing, this book was still ok. The pictures of Elsa were very cute and the book wasn't too long to read. Jun 11, Kristine rated it it was amazing Shelves: outdoor-adventure. This may be the most moving and inspiring "animal story" I've ever read. Born Free - a Lioness Of Two Worlds by Adamson, Joy

Finally, something I really liked and appreciated about this book was the abundance of pictures. They help clear things up in the story when Joy got distracted on a tangent. However, the pictures were not evenly distributed and a chapter could be six pages of no pictures, and then five pages where three and a half of the pages were pictures. This was only slightly bothersome as it is understandable for the pictures to be formatted this was as they were taken over fifty years ago. The pictures also made the book seem a lot shorter because half of every chapter is pictures and the book is only pages in total. Despite some annoyances in the writing, this book was still ok. The pictures of Elsa were very cute and the book wasn't too long to read. Jun 11, Kristine rated it it was amazing Shelves: outdoor-adventure. This may be the most moving and inspiring "animal story" I've ever read. Evocative and compelling, Born Free is the remarkable true story of Elsa, an orphaned lion cub raised by Joy Adamson and her husband, George. At its core, Born Free is a love story. With great sensitivity and precision, Adamson chronicles the mutual affection and bond between a magnificent lioness and the humans who loved her enough to release her to the Kenyan wilds where she was free born. Joy Adamson wrote three books abo This may be the most moving and inspiring "animal story" I've ever read. I read them all. Born Free is my favorite. I first read Born Free in , nine years after it was first published. I was in the fifth grade. Entranced, I read it over and over. Her breezy, bucolic style recalls another formidable literary talent who writes so evocatively about her life in Kenya: Isak Dinesen. Delighted to locate a copy of Born Free at the library recently, I read it cover to cover in one sitting. For we tried by kindness alone to help her to overcome the differences that lie between our two worlds. Re-reading the last chapter, The Final Test, the same intense sense of sadness and loss these pages evoked kin me five decades ago bubbled up again from some deep internal well. It was as if Elsa and her human pride had never left, patiently waiting 50 years for my return to their story. Should we leave her now, and so close a very important chapter of our lives? And that, friends, is the mark of a true classic. Jun 22, Zoe rated it it was amazing Shelves: favorites. This is the inspiration, true story Elsa, a lioness, who is raised by the author Joy Adamson, and her husband George. When George must go on safari after a man-eating lion, his hunting party is attacked by a vicious lioness. She is shot in self-defense, but they realize later with remorse that she had been trying to protect her young, three cubs who George brings back to camp. They begin the painful process of reintroducing her to the wild. Can a domesticated lioness survive in the wild? Will she still be accepted by her own kind? Read and find out. Jul 03, Kiara rated it it was ok. I'll start with what I liked about this book: the pictures. Now, I don't know what you're looking for in a book. But to warn you, this book is mildly racist, scatterbrained, and boring at some parts. One paragraph she'll be telling this one story and then she'll get off track and tell a different story without summing up the first one or giving the second relevance or importance. Some areas I zoomed through reading and others I practically fell asleep at. I thought it would be interesting because I'll start with what I liked about this book: the pictures. I thought it would be interesting because it was about a lion I guess lions can be boring, too. My last issue with this book is when she beat Elsa for mauling the donkey and when she would say she "didn't like to kill animals. Her husband would randomly kill animals and she would talk about how it was 'necessary. Feb 11, g-na rated it it was amazing Shelves: africa , memoirs-and- biographies , biology-zoology , 5-star-faves. This is the 40th anniversary edition of this classic book, and it contains a new forward. I remember seeing this movie as a child, and it had a very sad ending that made me cry. This book, however, did not end on a sad note; now I think the movie may have included part of the storyline from the book's sequels. Born Free is a cute, bittersweet story of a couple in Kenya and their lioness, raised from a cub and successfully returned to the wild. It took place in the late 50s and retains a tiny bit This is the 40th anniversary edition of this classic book, and it contains a new forward. It took place in the late 50s and retains a tiny bit of the cultural attitude that was prevalent at the time. Nevertheless it is highly recommended for anyone who likes animals. Oct 10, Kayla rated it it was amazing Shelves: animal-books , non-fiction. This was a nice read. I enjoyed the story and the pictures of Elsa. The author starts the book off when she and her husband first find the lion cubs. She talks about their playfulness, shyness, and intelligence. I thought it was amazing how intelligent Elsa was. In many ways she was smarter than the typical canine. Elsa must learn how to hunt and survive on her own with only her human parents to teach her. There were many skills that she picked up from instinct alone. Again great book! This is w This was a nice read. This is what "Born Free" the movie is based on. Behold, the Lion Queen This is, in fact, three books in one. The story of Elsa is probably among the best known out of all 'animal stories', but I suspect most people have only heard her name, saw one of the movies or a documentary, a mention here or there guilty! The books are worth reading though. It may take a bit to get used to the style, but once you immerse yourself, there's no resurfacing till you've reached the last page. May 16, Tim Good rated it it was amazing. This was a seminal read in my life! Oct 11, Veronica rated it it was ok. This book created some mixed feelings in me. On the one hand, I love animals. I love animal stories, I love animal pictures, I love stories about animals overcoming adversity to thrive. On the other hand, this book is an account of some seriously unethical and problematic human behavior. I understand that it was a different time, when the extinction rates of large african mammals weren't so high and people generally just cared less about animals, but to read about the casual killing of animals, This book created some mixed feelings in me. I understand that it was a different time, when the extinction rates of large african mammals weren't so high and people generally just cared less about animals, but to read about the casual killing of animals, many of whom are now so rare, left a bad taste in my mouth. I recognize and appreciate Joy Adamson's contributions to the naturalism and biology, but at its heart this book is about the irresponsible killing of a lion mother, and then the reckless taming of one of her cubs, raised as a pet, and then booted back into the wild, and I can't condone that. It's remarkable that she was successfully reintroduced, its remarkable that she didn't eat the author or her husband, and its remarkable that the situation turned out mostly okay, but also it's definitely the exception to the rule. So this book was kind of cute, the stories about the lioness were interesting, but at the heart of it nothing in this book should be imitated, and it should instead be a sort of cautionary tale. Readers also enjoyed. Biography Memoir. About Joy Adamson. Joy Adamson. Joy Adamson born Friederike Victoria Gessner was a naturalist, artist, and author best known for her book, Born Free, which describes her experiences raising a lion cub named Elsa. Born Free was printed in several languages, and made into an Academy Award-winning movie of the same name. Born to Victor and Traute Gessner i Joy Adamson born Friederike Victoria Gessner was a naturalist, artist, and author best known for her book, Born Free, which describes her experiences raising a lion cub named Elsa. Her father was a wealthy architect. After the divorce, Joy went to live with her grandmother. In her autobiography The Searching Spirit, Adamson wrote about her grandmother, saying, "It is to her I owe anything that may be good in me. She married 3 times in the span of ten years. Her husbands were Viktor von Klarwill Ziebel , Jewish Austrian , the botanist Peter Bally divorced in , who gave her the nickname "Joy", and lastly game warden George Adamson. Viktor sent her to Africa, Bally influenced her painting and drawing of the people and the plant life of Africa. The Colonial Government of Kenya commissioned her to paint portraits of members of 22 tribes whose culture was vanishing. It was during her marriage to George Adamson that she lived in tent camps in Kenya and first met Elsa, the topic of her famous book Born Free. Adamson is best known for her conservation efforts associated with Elsa the Lioness. They decided to set her free rather than send her to a zoo, and spent many months training her to hunt and survive on her own. They were successful in the end, and Elsa became the first lioness successfully released back into the wild, the first to have contact after release, and the first known to have cubs. The Adamsons kept their distance from the cubs, getting close enough only to photograph them. After the book was written and published in , it became a bestseller, spending 13 weeks at the top of The New York Times Best Seller list and nearly a year on the chart overall. After Elsa died, George and Joy Adamson separated and were not together after He mistakenly assumed she had been killed by a lion, and this was what was initially reported by the media. Police investigation found Adamson's wounds were too sharp and bloodless to have been caused by an animal, and concluded she had been murdered. Paul Nakware Ekai, a discharged laborer formerly employed by Adamson, was found guilty of murder and sentenced to imprisonment at President Daniel arap Moi's pleasure. Joy's widower, George Adamson, was murdered 9 years later, in , near his camp in Kora National by poachers. Other books in the series. Story of Elsa 4 books. Books by Joy Adamson. Escape the Present with These 24 Historical Romances. You know the saying: There's no time like the present In that case, we can't Read more Sign up for our newsletter. You'll receive the latest on books we've acquired, street markets we will be attending, upcoming events and even special promotions! Add to Basket Ask a Question. See all items by Joy Adamson. Follow us on Instagram to get a glimpse of what's going on now at Bleak House Books. Like us on Facebook! Joy Adamson. There have been many tales of animals' return to the wild, but since its first publication in , when the New York Times hailed it as a "fascinating and remarkable book," one stands alone as the most original and perhaps best-loved animal story. Born Free is a classic which traces the extraordinary development of the lion cub Elsa in transition between two radically different worlds. Born Free, a Lioness Of Two Worlds by Adamson, Joy

I also loved the film where her love for animals came shining through. Truly exceptional story. Later editions were to change the subtitle. Most people now know the story of a lion cub, who was raised in captivity, and then returned to the wild. Together, they made this remarkable story happen. Born Free: A Lioness of Two Worlds contains many monochrome photographs, on glossy paper in groups throughout the text, with just half a dozen in colour, and a colour photograph as the frontispiece: All the photographs are full page, or half page; a generous size as this book is larger than an average hardback. The print is "Collins Clear-Type", which is as it says a good clear text size for those who read normal print, and the paper is extremely good, of a heavy, dense quality, which has not even yellowed over the intervening 70 years. This is the second copy of Born Free which I bought, as it was a vast improvement on the paperback. I also had a complete audio edition, but now I have a composite, unillustrated Large Print volume, including the sequels "Living Free" and "Forever Free". That edition is where I shall review the text. Yes, I have had four editions of this ground-breaking and influential book, in all. Jun 24, Summer Lane rated it it was amazing Shelves: non-fiction , favorites. This is one of the best animal stories of all time. Because it isn't just about a lion named Elsa, it is about a companion, a friend and a loving creature who shared in the lives of Joy and George Adamson when they lived in Kenya. Originally penned in , it is the touching tale of how they raised an orphaned lion cub named Elsa and she grew to be their nearest and dearest friend - she was family. I have rarely read a book so heartwarming. Elsa was really very magical and unique, and afte This is one of the best animal stories of all time. Elsa was really very magical and unique, and after reading this book, having a lion around suddenly begins to sound much more enjoyable than a dog. The movie, Born Free, is of course based on this book, and it is one of my favorite movies of all time. The book encloses a lot more detailed information about Elsa, her habits and her charismatic personality. How lucky we are to be able to read about Elsa and appreciate a little slice of the African animal population through the eyes of two people who sincerely loved and understood these creatures better than most people could ever hope to. Everybody should read this book. View 1 comment. Jan 09, Jami rated it liked it Shelves: animal-books , classics. While I loved Elsa's story and enjoyed most of the pictures in the book, this was not the heartwarming story I remember from my childhood. I love Elsa, but I really didn't like the Adamsons. It may be because I keep comparing them to Lawrence Anthony, another conservationist, and I find that Mr. Anthony seemed to have more respect for the animals' right to exist in their environment. I couldn't lose sight of the fact that Elsa was orphaned because he killed her mother thinking she was a male lio While I loved Elsa's story and enjoyed most of the pictures in the book, this was not the heartwarming story I remember from my childhood. I couldn't lose sight of the fact that Elsa was orphaned because he killed her mother thinking she was a male lion, leaving the three cubs without a mother. I was confused at her reference to "beating" Elsa when she tracked a donkey, which was a purely natural instinct, and not three pages later, said that they never used force with her. In my opinion, a beating counts as force, but maybe that's just me. Finally, I can't help but think how cruel it was to Elsa to keep sneaking off and leaving her when she was sleeping. They keep reappearing and disappearing - I'm not sure that helped her adapt to the wild or simply increased her confusion about where she belonged. She didn't know why the people she loved kept abandoning her and then returning and then repeating the process. One thing I got a chuckle out of was when they returned to Elsa for a three day period several times, and when she got to know the signs they were preparing to leave, she turned her face away from them. My 16 yr old shih-tzu does the same thing when I leave for work! She'll give me kisses whenever I ask, as she is a kisser. But, when I'm off to work, she knows - when I go to kiss her, she whips her face away and refuses to kiss me. When I come home after work, well, that's a different story! View all 8 comments. I was just coming into my teens when I first saw the film Born Free , and along with almost everyone else, was overwhelmed by the idea: the passion and the trauma involved. Most people now know the story of a female lion cub, who was raised in captivity, and then returned to the wild. I rushed out and bought a copy of the true story as soon as I could. This is that edition, dating from , and I was just coming into my teens when I first saw the film Born Free , and along with almost everyone else, was overwhelmed by the idea: the passion and the trauma involved. This is that edition, dating from , and the first part of what had become a trilogy. Together, they had made this remarkable story happen in real life. I loved this book but as with all small paperbacks, the photographs contained seem a bit too small. They are all in monochrome, as the first edition of the book dates from , and this was normal practice for the time. All three books had an significant impact on wildlife conservation and attitudes to the environment. I have read the book and watched the film many times over the years. I now own a composite, unillustrated Large Print volume, including all three parts. View all 4 comments. Sep 18, Joanne Moyer rated it really liked it Shelves: fantastical-felines , books-read-in I saw the movie Born Free as a child and loved it. I probably read the book along the way too but as usual don't remember. The story of Elsa and the Adamsons is still an amazing one of love and devotion between a wild animal and her 'pride', George and Joy Adamson. The descriptions of where and how they lived is really interesting as it's a way of life not many will ever experience. View all 7 comments. Shelves: me. You saw the movie, you sang the song, you begged mother for the vinyl, and she bought you the book as a surprise. Elsa had all our hearts back then, and her was amazing and truly free in the end. It was the Feel Good story of the decade. What better message to save the Earth? Oct 12, W rated it liked it Shelves: biography. The story of a lion cub,raised in captivity,and returned to the wild,and the couple who made it happen. View 2 comments. Shelves: biography , around-the-world , young-adult , memoir , non-fiction , ultimate-reading-list , science. This is the book the film was based upon, the story of Elsa the lioness, hand raised by a Senior Game Warden and his wife, Joy Adamson, and later released into the wild. This would be rated five stars except that I really try to be stingy with those. The book didn't make me cry, laugh-out-loud or change my thinking, and Adamson, while she writes well and fluently, doesn't have the impressive, lyrical prose of Beryl Markham and Isak Dinesen, two other European women who wrote celebrated memoirs a This is the book the film was based upon, the story of Elsa the lioness, hand raised by a Senior Game Warden and his wife, Joy Adamson, and later released into the wild. The book didn't make me cry, laugh-out-loud or change my thinking, and Adamson, while she writes well and fluently, doesn't have the impressive, lyrical prose of Beryl Markham and Isak Dinesen, two other European women who wrote celebrated memoirs about their time in Kenya. But what this book does offer is what a friend of mine called a "lost art:" The ability to write about an animal without treacly sentimentality but rather with sharp and insightful observations that make their personality evident and in this case lovable without a narcissistic focus on the writer and without an evident heavy-handed political agenda. Not that it hasn't had such a political effect. Not that Elsa could ever be called a captive lion. That's what made her happy ending possible. She was never confined, never treated with brutality in an attempt to dominate. Even after successfully released into the wild, when the Adamsons came to visit her she'd recognize and greet them with affection. As Joy Adamson put it, their relationship continued "to be one of absolute equality quite different from that between a dog and his master. It was a pleasure to read and I highly recommend it--especially for lovers of animals and nature. Mar 10, Reindert Van Zwaal rated it liked it. The story was remarkable and I really enjoyed the bonding between a newly born lion and humans. However, the storytelling wasn't that good. It was merely a enumeration of events instead of a tale that is being told. I planned to read all three installments, but I will leave it at the first one, for I cannot get myself up to reading two more books of enumerations. A story of Elsa a lion cub raised and loved by Joy and George. A telling of the hardship for both Elsa and her human family. It seemed at times to be unattainable and a failure. The life for Elsa was torn between that of being a pet or living a free life in the wild as she was meant to have. The steps in her life are told in many fun and hard adventures. Elsa finally is her own lioness but she never forgets her human family. Elsa's story started the wild animal rights to live wild and free and e A story of Elsa a lion cub raised and loved by Joy and George. Elsa's story started the wild animal rights to live wild and free and ends in a very real legacy left by both Elsa and the Adamson's. Adamson's writing flows like a conversation between friends. The adventures with Elsa touch you in a very special way that true stories usually do. I had moments of laughter and smiles as well as tears. Side note: This was not their first and only encounter with lions. George brought the lion and Africa back into the life of Christian A Lion Called Christian: The True Story of the Remarkable Bond Between Two Friends and a Lion born in a pen and displayed at Harrod's until two men rescued Christian as a cub, kept him till he was too big and finally also returned him to live the life of freedom with the help of George Adamson's capable hands. May 13, Lisa Vegan rated it it was amazing Recommends it for: anyone who loves animals, especially lions, or has any interest in Africa, everyone. Shelves: nature , readbooks-female-author-or-illust , z , zz-5star , cats , reviewed , non-fiction , biography. I cannot remember how many times I reread this book; it was many. I also enjoyed Living Free and Forever Free although not quite as much, but it would have been impossible for me to not read those sequels as I would have been painfully curious about how the story continues. The story of Elsa the lioness and her humans and Kenya was completely engrossing. I read it first when I was about 12 and it got me interested I cannot remember how many times I reread this book; it was many. I read it first when I was about 12 and it got me interested in Africa and conservation. And lions. Adamson does a terrific job of telling a very personal story and also educating about the bigger picture. A captivating read. View all 6 comments. Jan 01, LibraryCin rated it really liked it Shelves: biography , animals , lions , africa. I love animals, and it would be a dream come true to bond with a wild animal like Joy and her husband George did. It was an easy read, and there were lots of wonderful photos. What a fabulous lion Elsa was - she learned to live with other wild lions, but at the same time, she was gentle and always careful around her human caretakers, who she seemed to love just as much as they loved her. I read this when I was a child and remember loving it. Would love to read it again someday. Apr 07, Robin Reynolds rated it it was amazing. He then found her three young cubs and felt great remorse at having killed their mother and took them home. Two of the cubs were eventually sent to a zoo, but the smallest, Elsa, stayed on as a member of the household. The bond between Elsa and the Adamsons is incredible. While raising Elsa as a pet, they rarely kept her penned up or chained and gave her a lot of freedom to still act like a lion. She was very loving and affectionate to them, and to other people who came into contact with her. When the time inevitably came, Joy and George made the hard decision to release Elsa into the wild. After finding a suitable location, they spent a lot of time teaching Elsa to hunt for herself. They would make camp, spend time with Elsa, and then leave her on her own for a day, then a couple of days, then a week at a time. She was always happy to see them on their return, while at the same time growing more and more self-sufficient. Even after being in the wild on her own for several months, Elsa would still get very excited when George and Joy visited her, showing them much affection and wanting to play with them. But she also grew more independent, and began to show signs of wanting them to leave her alone, and her transition from family pet to wild lioness was successful. A heartwarming and well written story, with lots of pictures in my edition of the book anyway , and now I want to watch the movie again. Mar 15, L. This was a memoir I read in my youth, perhaps the first, and it remains with me to this day. Joy Adamson's story of returning an orphaned lion who had been raised as a pet to the wild is heartbreaking, heartwarming, and hopeful. It's also a peek at East Africa in the s. All around, a good and emotional read. May 09, Iskreads rated it it was amazing Shelves: 7th-sims. One of the people lucky enough to experience this was Joy Adamson, the author of the book. Just being in a Safari car on a bumpy road is all worth it, even in tall grass never knowing what is coming around the corner. But as long as the truck is moving you can never take even a half decent picture, and when searching for lions, its just part of the adventure. But Joy Adamson never had to do that she could almost always walk out onto her porch and let her pet lion Elsa suck her thumb. This incredible story is of a lioness that starts with the very beginning of its life. I have lived in Africa for about 3 years and have never heard anything like it until reading this awe-inspiring book. Although she originally had three lions she gave the bigger two out into a zoo in London after they were old enough to care for themselves. The smaller one, Elsa, was too reliant on people for food so they kept her. When she was around two years old, they tried to release her gradually but failed. Could they do it and release her with ease? Graham W. May 19, Tweedledum rated it it was amazing Shelves: animals , autobiography , gr-review. The book that perhaps did most to inspire a generation to learn more about natural history and to support the work of conservation. When the film of Born Free was made it was. I must have been about 8 or 9 when I first saw it and I have never forgotten it. To read Joy's own words as she talks about Elsa and her cubs is a very moving experience. Of course Jot Adamson was a driven woman who often or roughshod over the feelings of those nearest to her, but this should not dimi The book that perhaps did most to inspire a generation to learn more about natural history and to support the work of conservation. Of course Jot Adamson was a driven woman who often or roughshod over the feelings of those nearest to her, but this should not diminish her vision and achievements. Her tragic death, murdered by someone who knew her for a while overshadowed this but as time recedes we can out that too into a clearer perspective. Joy's voice continues to rise off the page as we follow her soul searching.. Oct 02, Amalie rated it it was amazing Shelves: animals , journals- diaries-essays , biography , africa. An orphaned lion cub, the weakest of the litter that grew up into a beautiful lioness named Elsa, who got involved in many adventures with her foster parents. Oh, my goodness, how did I forget this one!!! Aug 12, Kirsty Noah-whitlock rated it liked it. Bit of a hard one to review. I love Elsas story but not entirely agreeable with Joy and George, just because of some of the animals they killed for no reason to be honest. At times I felt like giving up on the book for this reason but I'm going to continue the trilogy and try reading Living Free to see how Elsas journey continues. I may even get a liking for Joy and Else you never know, watch this space xx. I read this when I was young, and made me cry my eyes out. I still think of this book. Nov 16, Neve added it. It retells the experience Joy and her husband George as they raised Elsa for three years. Throughout the story they travel on safaris and introduce Elsa to the natural world. Joy and Elsa develop a mother-daughter like relationship that lasts a lifetime. Especially now, at a time when the sanctity of the wild and its inhabitants is increasingly threatened by human development and natural disaster, Adamson's remarkable tale is an idyll, and a model, to return to again and again. Illustrated with the same beautiful, evocative photographs that first enchanted the world forty years ago. Sign up for our newsletter. You'll receive the latest on books we've acquired, street markets we will be attending, upcoming events and even special promotions! Add to Basket Ask a Question. See all items by Joy Adamson. 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The Zoo Review: Book Review: Born Free - A Lioness of Two Worlds

Adamson does a terrific job of telling a very personal story and also educating about the bigger picture. A captivating read. View all 6 comments. Jan 01, LibraryCin rated it really liked it Shelves: biography , animals , lions , africa. I love animals, and it would be a dream come true to bond with a wild animal like Joy and her husband George did. It was an easy read, and there were lots of wonderful photos. What a fabulous lion Elsa was - she learned to live with other wild lions, but at the same time, she was gentle and always careful around her human caretakers, who she seemed to love just as much as they loved her. I read this when I was a child and remember loving it. Would love to read it again someday. Apr 07, Robin Reynolds rated it it was amazing. He then found her three young cubs and felt great remorse at having killed their mother and took them home. Two of the cubs were eventually sent to a zoo, but the smallest, Elsa, stayed on as a member of the household. The bond between Elsa and the Adamsons is incredible. While raising Elsa as a pet, they rarely kept her penned up or chained and gave her a lot of freedom to still act like a lion. She was very loving and affectionate to them, and to other people who came into contact with her. When the time inevitably came, Joy and George made the hard decision to release Elsa into the wild. After finding a suitable location, they spent a lot of time teaching Elsa to hunt for herself. They would make camp, spend time with Elsa, and then leave her on her own for a day, then a couple of days, then a week at a time. She was always happy to see them on their return, while at the same time growing more and more self-sufficient. Even after being in the wild on her own for several months, Elsa would still get very excited when George and Joy visited her, showing them much affection and wanting to play with them. But she also grew more independent, and began to show signs of wanting them to leave her alone, and her transition from family pet to wild lioness was successful. A heartwarming and well written story, with lots of pictures in my edition of the book anyway , and now I want to watch the movie again. Mar 15, L. This was a memoir I read in my youth, perhaps the first, and it remains with me to this day. Joy Adamson's story of returning an orphaned lion who had been raised as a pet to the wild is heartbreaking, heartwarming, and hopeful. It's also a peek at East Africa in the s. All around, a good and emotional read. May 09, Iskreads rated it it was amazing Shelves: 7th-sims. One of the people lucky enough to experience this was Joy Adamson, the author of the book. Just being in a Safari car on a bumpy road is all worth it, even in tall grass never knowing what is coming around the corner. But as long as the truck is moving you can never take even a half decent picture, and when searching for lions, its just part of the adventure. But Joy Adamson never had to do that she could almost always walk out onto her porch and let her pet lion Elsa suck her thumb. This incredible story is of a lioness that starts with the very beginning of its life. I have lived in Africa for about 3 years and have never heard anything like it until reading this awe-inspiring book. Although she originally had three lions she gave the bigger two out into a zoo in London after they were old enough to care for themselves. The smaller one, Elsa, was too reliant on people for food so they kept her. When she was around two years old, they tried to release her gradually but failed. Could they do it and release her with ease? Graham W. May 19, Tweedledum rated it it was amazing Shelves: animals , autobiography , gr-review. The book that perhaps did most to inspire a generation to learn more about natural history and to support the work of conservation. When the film of Born Free was made it was. I must have been about 8 or 9 when I first saw it and I have never forgotten it. To read Joy's own words as she talks about Elsa and her cubs is a very moving experience. Of course Jot Adamson was a driven woman who often or roughshod over the feelings of those nearest to her, but this should not dimi The book that perhaps did most to inspire a generation to learn more about natural history and to support the work of conservation. Of course Jot Adamson was a driven woman who often or roughshod over the feelings of those nearest to her, but this should not diminish her vision and achievements. Her tragic death, murdered by someone who knew her for a while overshadowed this but as time recedes we can out that too into a clearer perspective. Joy's voice continues to rise off the page as we follow her soul searching.. Oct 02, Amalie rated it it was amazing Shelves: animals , journals-diaries-essays , biography , africa. An orphaned lion cub, the weakest of the litter that grew up into a beautiful lioness named Elsa, who got involved in many adventures with her foster parents. Oh, my goodness, how did I forget this one!!! Aug 12, Kirsty Noah-whitlock rated it liked it. Bit of a hard one to review. I love Elsas story but not entirely agreeable with Joy and George, just because of some of the animals they killed for no reason to be honest. At times I felt like giving up on the book for this reason but I'm going to continue the trilogy and try reading Living Free to see how Elsas journey continues. I may even get a liking for Joy and Else you never know, watch this space xx. I read this when I was young, and made me cry my eyes out. I still think of this book. Nov 16, Neve added it. It retells the experience Joy and her husband George as they raised Elsa for three years. Throughout the story they travel on safaris and introduce Elsa to the natural world. Joy and Elsa develop a mother-daughter like relationship that lasts a lifetime. I was not a fan of this story because it did not seem coherently written and if it was published now, it would look more like someone's blog rather than a story. Joy is both the author and one of the main characters, and she goes off on tangents about loosely relevant topics, such as a safari she once went on with Pati the rock hyrax before she found Elsa. The plot of the book seemed all over the place at times; it would just jump to an only slightly relevant topic. Additionally, often entire chapters seemed pointless and not relevant to the story. The most prominent example of this is the third chapter "Elsa Goes to the Indian Ocean" where Joy and George took Elsa to the beach when she turned a year old. This chapter adds nothing to the story except for a plot point that is quickly resolved in the next chapter and the fact that Elsa was playful with the other animals, which was already shown in the second chapter. I was not impressed. Despite the unfortunate writing style, Born Free echoes the theme of an unbreakable mother-daughter bond, which is displayed through the relationship between Joy and Elsa. This was highlighted when they were temporarily separated at various points throughout the story. Elsa cried when she missed Joy. Whereas, Joy couldn't keep Elsa and the safety of her well-being out of her thoughts. This theme is woven throughout the story and it's incredibly heartwarming to hear Joy and Elsa care for each other in their times of need. Since she narrated with the perspective of herself as a main character, she constantly portrays herself and Elsa as perfect and omniscient and incapable of doing anything wrong, which can get slightly annoying. The only fault of Elsa that Joy recognizes is Elsa's lack of independence, but Joy would rather Elsa not be independent, and stay with her forever. Finally, something I really liked and appreciated about this book was the abundance of pictures. They help clear things up in the story when Joy got distracted on a tangent. However, the pictures were not evenly distributed and a chapter could be six pages of no pictures, and then five pages where three and a half of the pages were pictures. This was only slightly bothersome as it is understandable for the pictures to be formatted this was as they were taken over fifty years ago. The pictures also made the book seem a lot shorter because half of every chapter is pictures and the book is only pages in total. Despite some annoyances in the writing, this book was still ok. The pictures of Elsa were very cute and the book wasn't too long to read. Jun 11, Kristine rated it it was amazing Shelves: outdoor-adventure. This may be the most moving and inspiring "animal story" I've ever read. Evocative and compelling, Born Free is the remarkable true story of Elsa, an orphaned lion cub raised by Joy Adamson and her husband, George. At its core, Born Free is a love story. With great sensitivity and precision, Adamson chronicles the mutual affection and bond between a magnificent lioness and the humans who loved her enough to release her to the Kenyan wilds where she was free born. Joy Adamson wrote three books abo This may be the most moving and inspiring "animal story" I've ever read. I read them all. Born Free is my favorite. I first read Born Free in , nine years after it was first published. I was in the fifth grade. Entranced, I read it over and over. Her breezy, bucolic style recalls another formidable literary talent who writes so evocatively about her life in Kenya: Isak Dinesen. Delighted to locate a copy of Born Free at the library recently, I read it cover to cover in one sitting. For we tried by kindness alone to help her to overcome the differences that lie between our two worlds. Re-reading the last chapter, The Final Test, the same intense sense of sadness and loss these pages evoked kin me five decades ago bubbled up again from some deep internal well. It was as if Elsa and her human pride had never left, patiently waiting 50 years for my return to their story. Should we leave her now, and so close a very important chapter of our lives? And that, friends, is the mark of a true classic. Jun 22, Zoe rated it it was amazing Shelves: favorites. This is the inspiration, true story Elsa, a lioness, who is raised by the author Joy Adamson, and her husband George. When George must go on safari after a man-eating lion, his hunting party is attacked by a vicious lioness. She is shot in self-defense, but they realize later with remorse that she had been trying to protect her young, three cubs who George brings back to camp. They begin the painful process of reintroducing her to the wild. Can a domesticated lioness survive in the wild? Will she still be accepted by her own kind? Read and find out. Jul 03, Kiara rated it it was ok. I'll start with what I liked about this book: the pictures. Now, I don't know what you're looking for in a book. Illustrated with all the highly evocative photographs that initially stirred the world, and updated with a new introduction by Dr. George B. Schaller, Director of Wildlife Conservation for the New York Zoological Society and long-time acquaintance of the Adamsons, this large-sized paperback edition again renews one of the most remarkable associations between man and wild beast ever told. Used - Very good. One small crease to cover. Binding tight and square. Text block clean and bright. First preliminary page is creased. Item There have been many accounts of the return to the wild of tame animals, but since its original publication in , when the New York Times hailed it as a "fascinating and remarkable book," Born Free has stood alone in its power to move us. https://files8.webydo.com/9589382/UploadedFiles/C258577B-58D3-4DE1-763D-576C602EC14B.pdf https://static.s123-cdn-static.com/uploads/4641246/normal_6021464e2dd86.pdf https://uploads.strikinglycdn.com/files/79cb49e0-577a-4fbe-80b2-0b84ff3c1b94/abnehmen-mit-stevia-so-erreichen-sie-verbluffend-einfach-ihr- wunschgewicht-mit-dem-kalorienfreien-963.pdf https://static.s123-cdn-static.com/uploads/4639706/normal_6020f4e1278fe.pdf https://files8.webydo.com/9586070/UploadedFiles/893A0428-E10C-1067-A2F4-6E2A421E938F.pdf https://files8.webydo.com/9586578/UploadedFiles/85018A75-C8B1-E2DD-81C7-C8F6651FA581.pdf