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.
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About the Author:
ANTHONY “ACE” BOURKE is one of Australia’s leading art curators. He lives in Sydney. JOHN RENDALL is a member of the Royal Geographic Society and a trustee of the George Adamson Trust. He divides his time between London and Sydney.
From AudioFile:
This book about two Australians who buy a pet lion they name Christian at Harrods in London was published in 1971. It has been updated and republished since the phenomenal online success of a video about the reunion between the lion and the men after the cat had been rehabilitated by George Adamson (BORN FREE) and released into the wilds of Africa. It's a warm, loving story that retains its relevance decades after the events. John Lee is an able reader. He uses just enough of an accent to give the Australian setting authenticity, but not so much that it interferes with the story, especially for American listeners. The pace of the text is lively and engaging. R.C.G. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine
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- PublisherRandom House Audio
- Publication date2009
- ISBN 10 0739384589
- ISBN 13 9780739384589
- BindingAudio CD
- Number of pages3
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Rating