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A review by rainys
Between Man and Beast: An Unlikely Explorer and the African Adventure That Took the Victorian World by Storm by Monte Reel
3.0
I enjoyed this book that takes on the little known story of Paul Du Chaillu who is attributed for the popularity of “The Great White Hunter” and gorilla characters in the late 1800’s. I have studied biology and have read many mainstream primatology books. I will be adding this one to my collection. Many of the major characters described by Monte Reel (like Darwin, Huxley and Owen) are all men that are famously referenced in history and biology texts but I had never recalled mentions of Paul Du Chaillu. I am glad that I was introduced to this influential, colorful and unfamiliar man.
Du Chaillu is an interesting character who balanced himself between a variety of cultures in Africa, America and Europe. Monet Reel makes Du Chaillu’s story alive with some dramatic descriptions of events (drama that Paul himself would enjoy reading) that draws in the reader. But the content is often word for word from primary sources of newspapers, private letters and known historical events bringing validity and historical accuracy to the book. I enjoyed how Reel paced the story of Du Chaillu’s life by dividing the book up into individual stories and subjects that add up to the greater picture. I also appreciated how the historical setting was highlighted as so the reader can understand exactly what had drove people to act the way they did.
I have recently read The Lost World by Arthur Conan Doyle and had attributed Du Chaillu’s adventures in Africa as an inspiration for Doyle’s novel early on in Reel’s book. Major themes that permeate The Lost World are influenced by the political state of London’s natural and exploration clubs, as well as popular attitudes of the great white hunter in the jungle. Reel mentioned this connection in the epilogue and it was fun to see that I recognized the connection.
Du Chaillu is an interesting character who balanced himself between a variety of cultures in Africa, America and Europe. Monet Reel makes Du Chaillu’s story alive with some dramatic descriptions of events (drama that Paul himself would enjoy reading) that draws in the reader. But the content is often word for word from primary sources of newspapers, private letters and known historical events bringing validity and historical accuracy to the book. I enjoyed how Reel paced the story of Du Chaillu’s life by dividing the book up into individual stories and subjects that add up to the greater picture. I also appreciated how the historical setting was highlighted as so the reader can understand exactly what had drove people to act the way they did.
I have recently read The Lost World by Arthur Conan Doyle and had attributed Du Chaillu’s adventures in Africa as an inspiration for Doyle’s novel early on in Reel’s book. Major themes that permeate The Lost World are influenced by the political state of London’s natural and exploration clubs, as well as popular attitudes of the great white hunter in the jungle. Reel mentioned this connection in the epilogue and it was fun to see that I recognized the connection.