A Lion Called Christian: The True Story of the Remarkable Bond Between Two Friends and a Lion
by Anthony Bourke, John Rendall
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Book Summary Information
Author: Anthony Bourke, John RendallForeword: George Adamson
Edition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2009-03-10
ISBN: 0767932307
Number of pages: 256
Publisher: Broadway
Book Reviews of A Lion Called Christian: The True Story of the Remarkable Bond Between Two Friends and a Lion
Book Review: A Brilliant Testimonial To The Power Of The Human-Animal Bond
Summary: 5 Stars
"A Lion Called Christian" is a brilliant book dramatically updated and expanded from the 1971 original edition. I am confident that everyone reading this review has seen the wildly popular Internet video clip of Christian being reunited with his former companions, Ace Bourke and John Rendall. Some may question whether the backstory to the clip is worth reading, inasmuch as the gist of the story is explained in the video. For any doubters among you, do not hesitate to buy the book: it is enthralling, charmingly told, uplifting, and moving.
John and Ace purchased Christian from Harrods Department Store in late 1969 as a cub, and took him to the London shop (fittingly named "Sophisticat") where they worked. Christian grew up to be a very intelligent and well-mannered lion, but quickly outgrew London and the UK. John and Ace couldn't bear seeing Christian confined to zoo for the rest of his life, and in a stroke of fate, actors Virginia McKenna and Bill Travers, who had been in "Born Free," a film about lions, happened to meet John, Ace, and Christian, and brokered a deal with the legendary George Adamson, the leading lion naturalist on the planet. Over the course of a few months the decision was taken to fly Christian to Kenya to reintroduce him to the wild. Over the next two years Christian flourished, and became a favorite of Adamson, as well as the alpha male in his own pride (or pyramid, in Adamson's terminology.)
The video from the Internet is from a reunion visit made by Ace and John in 1971. I have always been a strong believer in the intelligence of animals and in the strength of the human-animal bond: I have never seen better evidence of those beliefs than that short video. The book details the behind the scenes action surrounding the event, and details their follow up trip to visit Christian in 1972, when he had grown to 500 pounds. (Adamson believed him to be the biggest lion in Kenya.) At that point Christian was already taking multi-day and multi-week treks, and finally he was never seen again. John and Ace knew the perils Christian faced but never wavered in their commitment to do what was best for him: I know of no greater gift they (or any other animal guardian or pet owner) could have given him than always putting his best interests first.
The book has been substantially updated since 1971, and makes a strong argument in favor of conservation: there are only one third the lions in Africa now as there were in 1971. I agree with them, and encourage the support of wildlife preservation trusts to preserve these priceless creatures. It's sad to think that by now certainly Christian is long gone, but hopefully his progeny roam the plains of Kenya today and forever.
This book is quick to read, but makes a big impact. I recommend it highly to anyone, and most especially to animal lovers. What a great lion Christian was, and how fortunate that he met the right two people at just the right time. If only every animal were so blessed. Thank you John and Ace. And of course, thank you Christian.
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Summary of A Lion Called Christian: The True Story of the Remarkable Bond Between Two Friends and a Lion
In 2008 an extraordinary two-minute film clip appeared on YouTube and immediately became an international phenomenon. It captures the moving reunion of two young men and their pet lion Christian, after they had left him in Africa with Born Free?s George Adamson to introduce him into his rightful home in the wild.A Lion Called Christian tells the remarkable story of how Anthony ?Ace? Bourke and John Rendall, visitors to London from Australia in 1969, bought the boisterous lion cub in the pet department of Harrods. For several months, the three of them shared a flat above a furniture shop on London?s King?s Road, where the charismatic and intelligent Christian quickly became a local celebrity, cruising the streets in the back of a Bentley, popping in for lunch at a local restaurant, even posing for a fashion advertisement. But the lion cub was growing up?fast?and soon even the walled church garden where he went for exercise wasn?t large enough for him. How could Ace and John avoid having to send Christian to a zoo for the rest of his life? A coincidental meeting with English actors Virginia McKenna and Bill Travers, stars of the hit film Born Free, led to Christian being flown to Kenya and placed under the expert care of ?the father of lions? George Adamson. Incredibly, when Ace and John returned to Kenya to see Christian a year later, they received a loving welcome from their lion, who was by then fully integrated into Africa and a life with other lions.
Originally published in 1971, and now fully revised and updated with more than 50 photographs of Christian from cuddly cub in London to magnificent lion in Africa, A Lion Called Christian is a touching and uplifting true story of an indelible human-animal bond. It is is destined to become one of the great classics of animal literature.
Book Description
In 2008 an extraordinary two-minute film clip appeared on YouTube and immediately became an international phenomenon. It captures the moving reunion of two young men and their pet lion Christian, after they had left him in Africa with Born Free?s George Adamson to introduce him into his rightful home in the wild.
A Lion Called Christian tells the remarkable story of how Anthony ?Ace? Bourke and John Rendall, visitors to London from Australia in 1969, bought the boisterous lion cub in the pet department of Harrods. For several months, the three of them shared a flat above a furniture shop on London?s King?s Road, where the charismatic and intelligent Christian quickly became a local celebrity, cruising the streets in the back of a Bentley, popping in for lunch at a local restaurant, even posing for a fashion advertisement. But the lion cub was growing up--fast--and soon even the walled church garden where he went for exercise wasn?t large enough for him. How could Ace and John avoid having to send Christian to a zoo for the rest of his life? A coincidental meeting with English actors Virginia McKenna and Bill Travers, stars of the hit film Born Free, led to Christian being flown to Kenya and placed under the expert care of ?the father of lions? George Adamson. Incredibly, when Ace and John returned to Kenya to see Christian a year later, they received a loving welcome from their lion, who was by then fully integrated into Africa and a life with other lions.
Originally published in 1971, and now fully revised and updated with more than 50 photographs of Christian from cuddly cub in London to magnificent lion in Africa, A Lion Called Christian is a touching and uplifting true story of an indelible human-animal bond. It is destined to become one of the great classics of animal literature.
A Look Inside A Lion Called Christian
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