Excellent book about actuall events in the late 1800's of a British Officer in Africa. The events with the two man-eating lions represents a small portion of the adventures of Patterson.

A fascinating snapshot in a small hiccup in the giant that was the British Empire. "Progress" is stopped by two lions who have developed an appetite for tender meat. Patterson is an engineer and really not a hunter. Nevertheless, he struggles manfully and heroically to protect his workmen and advance the empire.

He's ultimately successful but not without failures. Despite his impressive efforts, the lions devour Indian workers, native tribesmen and even Europeans. Clearly these cats aren't racist. Everything is turned into lion scat.

Perhaps "Maneaters" isn't the best-written book in the world but it is documentation of a world long past and to the courage and endurance of a very brave man.

Ron Braithwaite author of novels--"Skull Rack" and "Hummingbird God"--on the Conquest of Mexico

I read this book several years ago before purchasing it and thoroughly enjoyed the story of the lions of Tsavo. The historical account of the facts behind this story are fascinating. I purchased this book as a Christmas gift, and was very disappointed with the paper stock on which it was printed. Had I seen this book in a store I would not have purchased this edition because the paper and printing reproduction are of such poor quality. If I didn't need it for a Christmas gift, I would have returned the item.

"The Man-Eaters of Tsavo" (also available in this edition The Man-Eaters of Tsavo (Peter Capstick Library Series)) is a fascinating book that tells of a time on the continent of Africa that is now long past. When the author, John H. Patterson, an engineer for the British Empire at the peak of its power, arrived in the southeastern African region of Tsavo, wild game, including dangerous, predatory man-eaters abounded with such profusion that a man armed with a rifle could sling up and shoot from virtually anywhere, for animals of all kinds densely populated the land. As an engineer in charge of planning and building the railroad and the necessary bridges, Patterson also had the responsibility of managing the workers, primarily Indians imported into Africa from India, their country also being under British rule at that time. Patterson's workers began to become unmanageable when huge, man-eating lions in the Tsavo region began eating the workers on a regular basis, somewhat dampening the coolies' enthusiasm for the already backbreaking job at which they toiled in brutal heat amidst vicious biting insects--though the prospect of the bite of the lions understandably troubled them more. Patterson's book is an enthralling, well-rounded account of his experience there and not merely a hunting tale.
None of this life of relatively unrestrained high adventure could take place in today's Africa, which is dominated by third world dictators who, with the evil assistance of IANSA, heavily restrict the right to bear arms in general and hunting in particular. Anyone interested in this time period should read With the Judaeans in the Palestine Campaign and Warrior: The Legend Of Colonel Richard Meinertzhagen.
The world of that time is long gone, as are most of the individuals of that type. More's the pity on both counts.
The edition referred to here is an inexpensive paperback reprint with poor photographs.
Had I known about the Capstick edition (see above) prior to ordering, I would have chosen it instead.
Nevertheless, this "low budget" edition of "The Man-Eaters of Tsavo" is well worth the read.
But be warned: you'll want to read more stories like it when you finish . . . and you might even develop a yen to hunt large, dangerous, predatory, man-eating game in the long grass that grows in the vast silent places of what was once the "heart of darkness."

The author gives the true account of the Tsavo Lions. He seems to downplay the story at times, but it makes for very interesting reading. The last 2/3 of the book are about his other hunting adventures while in Africa. Worth your time for sure.

I ordered this book for Christmas for my son and he is really enjoying reading the book. He loved the movie the book is based on, The Ghost and the Darkness, and now gets to read about the real-life experiences of J.H. Patterson. A great addition to his reading library!

Wonderful to see that books which were best-sellers back in the 1920s can be brought back to life. Beautifully reprinted, though the uneven cutting of the pages is irritating to the reader. Otherwise, well done!

If you liked the Ghost and the Darkness you will like this book. The first half of the book Patterson recounts the trails and tribulation of hunting the to man eating lions. Patterson does this in a very British and Victorian why, yet it remains easily readable and hold your attention quite well. The second half of the book Patterson recount several other exciting hunting adventures he had while in Africa. All of them quite interesting and worth reading. Patterson's tails are grab your attention and hold you throughout the book.

Could not put the book down. Liked the style of writing. Great to know it was all true.

PUT YOURSELF IN THIS SPOT AT THIS TIME...WOW....WE SURE HAVE IT GREAT WHERE WE ARE AT...SAFE.

Get a taste of old world Victorian charm, mix it with an adventure tale, stir well, and you'll find this novel. Imagine life before the Discovery Channel.

If you like Victorian writing, if you like tales of adventure, and if you don't mind self-aggrandizing and possibly exaggerated reading, then this is the book for you. Colonel John Patterson's enormous imperial endeavour - building a bridge for the "lunatic line" across Africa - brings him into contact with a pair of man-eating lions. The story never lacks imaginative story-telling, and neither does it lack that Victorian-esque spirit of conquest (in all things) and patriarchal service to the 'noble savage.' Yet it is a wonderful story, perhaps popularised by the movie, and it will certainly stir nostalgic imaginations for years to come.

I was prompted to buy this book after seeing Jeff Corwin reading it on "The Corwin Experience." I thoroughly enjoyed it although toward the end I was getting a little tired of hearing about Patterson's hunting expeditions.

It's a window into a different time and place. And then there are the lions!

For those of you expecting Hemingway's Green Hills of Africa, Mr. Patterson's prose isn't going to make you roar. That being said, The Man-Eaters of Tsavo is a charming read from a far off time. I like to imagine the general public reading this volume when it was first released. With no Discovery HD Channel, no wide spread National Geographic magazine, and no Marline Perkins to educate them on the wonders of the African Wilderness, Paterson's exploits must have been positively magical. For those who enjoy this period, I highly recommended The Man Eaters of Tsavo for a rainy day! If we are to believe what we are told, Paterson was the real deal and we owe him the respect of hearing this amazing story in the first person.

This was a fantastic book, the accounts of the "Man eaters of Tsavo," were incredible. I would reccomend this book to anyone who loves the greatout doors. It will shed a new light on the raw power of the Animal Kindom.

THIS MAN ENDURED ALOT OF THINGS IN AFRICA,HIS ACCOUNTS OF STALKING ,HUNTING AND KILLING THE TWO MANEATERS OF TSAVO IS A VERY GOOD STORY HANDS DOWN.THE AMAZING THING IS THAT THESE MANELESS LIONS CAN STILL BE SEEN TO THIS DAY AS THEY ARE STUFFED AND IN A MUSEUM HERE IN THE STATES! PATTERSON WAS AN ENGINEER CONTRACTED TO WORK ON THE RAILROAD, HIS WORKERS KEPT QUITTING HIM ON ACCOUNT OF THE LIONS FEEDING ON THEM AT WILL, PATTERSON FINALLY DECIDED TO TAKE MATTERS INTO HIS OWN HANDS AND THE EXCITING EVENTS THAT TRANSPIRE ARE WORTH THE READ.

I though this was a good story - some scary moments. A better story in the same vein is "Maneaters of Kumaon".

Patterson should have ended this book after he killed the Lions, because the rest of it is just a boring social studies lesson.

This book, first published in 1907, tells the story of the predations of two huge lions on the workers who were constuctuing a railway from the East coast of Africa to the then new settlement of Nairobi. These killed and devoured 130 or so people, Indian workers, native Africans and they also dined on a number of Europeans as well. The author is a true Victorian and a man of his times who writes of his ordeal very well and without the nauseating political correctness of today. The story of his hunt and the building of the railroad is a great read. It is edited by Peter Capstick, a man who was arguably one of the last of the Great White Hunters.
Much to the author's credit he does not belittle or demean the Indians or Africans in any way. He had a camera and took many remarkable photos and eventually became a naturalist of some repute. This book was also the inspiration for the movie Ghost and the Darkness which I thought was also quite good. The two lions he killed are in a museum in Chicago. For the Africa scholar who wants a bit of a different insight into Africa this is a fine addition to one's library.

Tales of African hunting don't get better than this. An amazing story, a fabulous writer, and (in this edition) a great quality book. Highly recommended. This is the extended text version, and has additional material (generally not related to the man-eaters) which is not commonly found in the library edition.

Ok, I read this after having read 'In the Long Grass' by Capstick, and the result was obvious. This book is not even half good compared to the other one.
I must say I found it a bit boring sometimes.

The description of the lions of Tsavo is interesting, but a bit shallow. Even if you have seen the movie based on this book (The Ghost and the Darkness), you find it more exciting.

A book is, most of the time, a hundred times better than the movie, so this is probably the exception that confirms the rule. The book is too 'cold'. It looks you are reading a financial report. 'Today we saw 2 lions - stop. They eat 2 men - stop'.

Big lack of passion in it.

This is a fascinating book. The writer, Col. J.H. Patterson, was an engineer sent to Africa to work on the "Lunatic Express", a stretch of rail that spanned Africa. Several obstacles confronted him, not the last of which was a pair of mane-less lions that went on a man-eating spree that lightened the coolie labor force by about 30 workers and an unrecorded number of African workers. Several things become apparent as one reads this work: first, the unbelievable hubris of the British Empire, personified in the person of Patterson. By the end of the book, I was won over by this clearly Victorian man, who without any specific training simply sorted out whatever problem came his way, including the hunting and killing of the two lions. This feat in itself required a staggering amount of courage and determination. This book is a glimpse into the soul, both good and bad, of the Empire on which the sun never set: Patterson was incredibly brave, smart, maybe even noble - and never once saw a native African as anything other than faithful or amusing.