I Don't Want to Shoot An Elephant And Other Stories: Tales of Dogs, Men, and of that Aristocrat of Game Birds, the Bobwhite Quail

Henry Holt and Company, 1958. First Edition. Very Good/Good. Some small pieces missing to dustjacket at spine; previous owner name. These leisurely reminiscences of a philology professor's hunting experiences, set in southern United States, bring with them a wealth of literacy, wisdom, and humor. Havilah Babcock, whose stories in national outdoor magazines have made him a favorite to the hunting and fishing enthusiasts, creates in his anecdotes of the idiosyncrasies of the hunter and the hunted, an atmosphere of comfortable confidence. He speaks informally, and with the easy tone of the Southern gentleman who is talking of the land he knows, shares his enthusiasms, his exasperation, and his mellow insight into man and animal. These stories will have an obvious appeal to anyone who has ever held or dreamed of holding a fishing rod or a gun in his hand, as well as to the reader who enjoys Americana and the penetrating musings of a southern country gentleman. Over the course of Havilah Babcock’s career, the South Carolina-based author and educator penned some of the most humorous and insightful hunting and fishing stories ever told—his tales of pursuing bobwhite quail of particular merit and wit. he published unforgettable articles in Field & Stream, Outdoor Life, and Sports Afield, as well as classic books such as My Health is Better in November and Tales of Quails ’n Such. He is considered to be one of the finest, most good-natured sportsmen to ever put pen to paper.