A FENMAN IN AFRICA: OR A LETTER FROM RHODESIA. THE AUTHOR'S DIARY OF A STAY ON A RHODESIAN FARM AND A HUNTING CAMP IN THE AFRICAN BUSH, WITH RELATED CORRESPONDENCE. By Phil Gray.

2006 1st edition. 8vo (150 x 217mm). Ppviii,138. B/w photographs, illustrations by Corona Thornycroft. Black boards, upper board and spine titled in gilt.

In 1959 the eighteen year old Gray bought a copy of Nigel Thornycroft's "Fowler's Moon". The book told of coastal fowling on the salt marshes of the Wash, and described many places that the young Gray knew. He wrote to Thornycroft, by now farming in Rhodesia, beginning a long correspondence and friendship. Many of their letters are reproduced here, discussing wildfowling and giving vivid first-hand descriptions of the last days of the old Rhodesia and the beginning of Mugabe's regime. Gray describes his 1981 hunting safari on the Zambesi with the Thornycroft family. In the latter part of the book he reproduces sections from the game diaries of Corona Thornycroft, Nigel's wife; game shooting and wildfowling, fishing and an elk-hunt, illustrated by her charming sketches. Finally comes Nigel's description of an exciting and successful day punt-gunning for wigeon with Peter Scott. Fenman in Africa should be read in conjunction with Nigel Thornycroft's "Fowler's Moon" and "Nigel and Corona", with which it shares characters and settings. Coch-y-Bonddu stock numbers, 24622 and 34598 respectively.