Born Free: The Story of Joy Adamson and Her Fight to Protect Lions

fabio massimo: As a child, I used to watch Elsa's adventures on TV. After visiting Tanzania's wonderful parks, I decided to read the book, looking for a way to renew the feelings I experienced during my African trip. I was non deluded, as I had again that Garden-of-Eden feeling I brought back form my safaris, when reading about the treks with Elsa and the time spent with her and the cubs after her release. I liked Author's effort to keep to the facts, even in the most touching or hearthbreaking moments, as well as in describing her inability to let the cubs go, after their release in Serengeti, as too many human parents do. Whoever wants to understand the importance of the work done in Tanzania's and East African parks to help us to remember how does it feel to live within Nature should read this book.

Italy on Mar 25, 2023

G: The book is great, I have read it a few decades ago. I've bought it now as a gift for my daughter. The quality of the limited edition hardcover is excellent in terms of details and finish. However, I was unpleasantly surprised by the size - it is essentially a pocket size book with very small font. I went back to the book posting to see where this is communicated and could not see it anywhere. When one clicks on the "look inside", the pop up has quite a good sized font on the screen. As such this omission about the book and font size is somewhat misleading.

Canada on Mar 08, 2021

MedicMarkRN: This is the incredible full story Elsa and her 3 Cubs. The writing is easy flowing and there is never a dull moment. Great insight into the personalities and behaviors of these large predatory cats. The story reflects a much simpler time in the African continent's history, reflected upon the future events both Joy and George's untimely deaths. It is also another reminder the fact you never know when the last time will be that you see those you love.

United States on Nov 05, 2020

J Roberts: So basically 5 stars! Only slight disappointment is the accompanying book is quite small with tiny writing however I guess it is a Limited Edition and main thing is I adore this movie so much.

United Kingdom on May 26, 2020

GW: I read the book whilst in Kenya, in Meru where Elsa grew up. It is a book very much of the time. I was disappointed. Sadly Joy Adamson is quite full of herself and the book could have been half the size and I would still have understood everything that was important to know. There’s only so much day to day behaviour of the lions that I could take and found it quite indulgent on behalf of the author. It was clearly written originally as a diary which explains its repetitive nature, but that can seem quite laborious in book form. I am glad I read it but as I say I expected much more.

United Kingdom on Mar 05, 2020

Quality over quantity: Wow what an amazing sorry I had watched the film but I had no idea what happed after and during this time. Elsa goppa jeptha and little elsa or course your are all incredible! And let’s not forget George and Joy these two truly loved animals in every sense of the word. Hats of to them!!!

United Kingdom on Sep 25, 2018

Kindle Customer: Great digital transfer. Note: while the ebook is titled as "Born Free," it includes the entire trilogy (Living Free, Forever Free.) These aren't available separately, only in this edition. Also, this does NOT include any of the pictures that always accompany the physical book, just in case that's part of your consideration here.

United States on Jan 30, 2017

Sarah B: Here's what I think modern readers are afraid to say: the Born Free legacy is incredible, but the book that started it all...isn't. Born Free was an exciting, eye-opening read in 1960 because it dispelled myths about the savagery of "darkest Africa," it was the most cutting edge information anyone had about lions at the time, and it sparked an interest in conversation, making wild animals personable and deserving of protection rather than fierce beasts to be hunted.

Joy and George Adamson were the first two people we know of who were able to introduce a tame lion back into the wild. Born Free is Joy's story about that project, and the one to protect Elsa's three half-wild cubs. The 50th anniversary edition of Born Free is the sum total of Joy Adamson's journalistic descriptions of daily life with Elsa over the years. Once I had the idea of Elsa's duality, her habits, and how Adamson related to her and helped her, I found the rest of the book repetitive and at times tedious and too subjective.

If you want the whole story of Born Free, watch the great BBC documentary, The Born Free Legacy (2010). Whereas Adamson focuses entirely on the lions in her book, the...

United States on Oct 01, 2015

Marty Essen: Anyone who follows my book reviews knows that I only give five-star reviews. Not that all the books I read are worthy of five stars--far from it--it's just that as a busy author myself, I don't have time to review books unless they warrant five-stars. I'm going to make the exception here.

I originally read all three books in the Born Free series when I was about fourteen. Had I reviewed them then, I would have given each book five stars. Unfortunately, this series hasn't aged well.

First, there's the packaging. I purchased the Kindle 50th Anniversary Edition, called "Born Free: The Full Story." Nowhere (that I could find) does the publisher state exactly what you are purchasing. As near as I can tell, this version includes "Born Free," "Living Free," and "Forever Free" all in one book, with the introductions of the second two books removed. The book names are missing and simply called Part One, Part Two, and Part Three. If I had the print versions of the actual books, I could compare, but there's only so much effort I'm willing to put into a review.

Also, the photos are hidden in the back and not mentioned on the Contents Page. My guess is that the majority of...

United States on Jul 26, 2015

Pat Dumond: I've loved "Born Free" since I read it as a child. The adventures of Elsa the Lioness, along with Daktari on television, made me fall in love with the idea of going to Africa. I bought this copy to refresh my memory as I prepare to take that long awaited safari to Kenya next summer. I'll be visiting the parks where Elsa grew up and the burial spots of both Elsa and Joy Adamson.

United States on Aug 16, 2013