Big five are live and dangerous

FRANCIS MACOMBER, in Hemingway’s celebrated story, is on safari in Africa. A male lion has been roaring during the night, keeping the wealthy American awake in his tent. The animal is tracked next day.

Macomber is nervous as he and Wilson, his professional guide, stalk it. With trembling hands, he bungles the shot; the unfortunate animal is wounded and goes to ground. Now Macomber, shadowed by Wilson and watched from a car by Margot his wife, must enter the long grass to ‘finish off’ the poor creature. At the crucial moment, Macomber panics and flees in front of Margot, Wilson and their native helpers. ‘In Africa no woman ever misses her lion and no white man ever bolts’, the locals say.

I loath Hemingway’s ‘a man’s got to do what a man’s got to do’ attitude to life. This Nobel laureate slaughtered many beautiful animals but ‘The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber’ is the finest short story I have ever read.