In Death in the Long Shadows, Francis Flavin takes avid readers of African hunting literature both where they want to go, on a dangerous game safari in Namibia’s renowned Caprivi Strip, and where many would rather not go, on a voyage of deep personal reflection focussed on fear, morality and mortality.
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In novella format, an all too often ignored literary style (think Steinbeck’s The Pearl or Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea), Death in the Long Shadows is the tale of Colorado hunter Paul Thayer and his quest for a Cape buffalo under the tutelage of his PH, Johan. The hunt, intended to be a cathartic recharging for Paul, quickly becomes an exercise in self-reflection and self-control, as the unethical, selfish and illegal acts of another hunter in camp bring angst and unwanted complications to the dynamics of safari life. As Paul’s hunt continues, he finds himself increasingly wrestling with self-doubt—afraid of failure, of not living up to his own expectations or those of Johan as they hunt Africa’s Black Death. Eventually they find the buffalo they’re looking for and Paul has no choice but to confront all his fears. I won’t reveal the climatic ending, but suffice to say the reader doesn’t foresee the twists and turns that bring this compelling story to a dramatic close.
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Death in the Long Shadows is, in part, an homage both to safari life and to the classic literary works of Capstick, Ruark and Hemingway. Flavin’s vivid
descriptions of the African landscape, the wildlife and the safari lifestyle all ring true. More admirably, however, his ability to articulate the impacts of reflection, self-awareness and doubt that many hunters harbor takes this book to another level altogether.
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Francis Flavin’s ability for writing captivating prose is not entirely unexpected, as he’s a poet and writer of acclaim; his previous works have been well received by the public and recognized with several awards by the literary industry. He’s lead an interesting life, with stints as an educator, a hockey player, a fish and game technician, a lawyer and public advocate, a government investigator, an ombudsman and an adventurer; undoubtedly that diversity of experience has provided great fodder for his writing efforts.
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If you thought all of the really engrossing African hunting literature was written decades ago, you owe it to yourself to check out Death in the Long Shadows. Reading, especially fiction, should be in large measure about entertainment, and above all its other attributes, this novella is highly entertaining. You can order your copy online at Amazon (www.amazon.com) or at Barnes and Noble (www.barnesandnoble.com)