The mighty Nimrod: A life of Frederick Courteney Selous, African hunter and adventurer, 1851-1917 by Stephen Taylor

The mighty Nimrod: A life of Frederick Courteney Selous, African hunter and adventurer, 1851-1917 Reviews

• 
  Philip

  A disappointing read. Fredrick Courtney Selous was a giant of a man in so many ways who left an indelible mark on Southern Africa and a hunter, explorer, soldier, protagonist in the opening up of modern Zimbabwe and as a talented writer, leaving legacy in his hugely successful books. Selous was a however a man of many significant contradictions as a hunter who became an avid conservationist, as a man who had an African wife and children but who played an active role in smashing the Matebele kingdom and articulated strong hatred for the Ndebele people and as a Jingoist who became a fierce and bitter critic of Britain's brutal war of conquest against the two Boer Republics. The author seems unable to unpack these contradictions properly and at the heart of this is an apparent limited or shallow understanding of traditional African societies and in particular the role and function of a king in an NGuni nation such as the amaNdbele. The amaNdbele King Lobengulu is always described in a manner that fundamentally misunderstands his role in relationship to the powerful royal council of Indunas and Princes as well as the spiritual leaders described as 'high priest's in the book. The power and functions of the king as well as his decisions and ability to determine events is clearly seen through a Western perspective of the absolute power of European monarchs who could by virtue of their Devine Right command the obedience of their subjects. This was not the case with a king like Lobengulu who ruled as the sacred representative of an entire hierarchy of authority. The obsession with his appearance and his personal relationships with individual hunters and adventurers is not placed in the context of the complex and devolved structures of authority. The mistaken belief that "the word or signature" of the King had sufficient legal sanction that was at the heart of many of the injustices perpetrated based on flimsy treaties signed without "prior informed consent" is not subject to any scrutiny. The deep underlying differences in world view about land as private property and ownership versus custodians of natural resources that led to so many understandings in settler societies if neither examined or seemingly understood.
  
  Selous's deep immersion into African society (including marrying into the Khama royal family of modern day Botswana) and the formative years he spent travelling and living in African society makes it unlikely that he personally did not understand these nuances and makes his contradictory behaviour and frequent remorse at positions he took, even more fascinating. The author fails to examine and question the apparent contradictions between the strongly held views Selous held about the desired destruction of the Matebele way of life and breaking the nation fand his apparent genuine concern for the well being of their Shone neighbours and vassals. The limitations of the author in examining these fascinating complexities and contradictions is very disappointing and detracts from some of the books strengths.
  
  The author seems competent and confident in unpacking the relationships between Selous and his political adversaries, his competitors and opponents within his own culture but not to provide any meaningful analysis of his relationships with his African family, friends, employees and protagonists.
  
  PS I read this book from cover to cover and wrote the above review without associating the author with one of his other work's Shaka's Children. On realising that he authored an excellent book on Zulu people I can only say that my disappointment in the Mighty Nimrod has if anything increased. What a pity that Taylor fails to bring his considerable knowledge about Nguni culture and history as evidenced in Shaka's Children to bear in his analysis of the massive contradictions in Selous involvement in the destruction of the Ndebele polity and the manner in which he is perceived in history. It detracts from a fascinating story and otherwise well written account of Selous life.
• 
  Andy Parsons

  An affectionate portrait of a truly fascinating man who lived life to the full often swept along by history but with a strong moral compass a colonialist who had integrity and can still be admired despite some mis-steps. Feels quite brief but has a lot to pack in. His time in East Africa is too briefly covered but you emerge with admiration and respect for a true adventurer who is very similar to Allan Quatemain in so many ways to whom he is often compared. Yes he was a hunter but he was also a proto-conservationist.