Gartman: In the Lion’s Claws. A Short Story

Title

V kogtiakh l’va. Rasskaz, Moskva 1915 (first edition: 1901)

In the Lion’s Claws. A Short Story

Keywords

Summary

The book appears to be a rewriting of Lion Hunting and Sporting Life in Algeria by Jules Gérard (1854), targeted at a popular readership. Gérard’s volume had already been published in Russia with the title Okhota na l’vov [Lion Hunting, 1859], in an edition that included his biography, letters and short stories. In his adapted version, written in the first person, Gartman does not mention Gérard’s name, implying instead that he has experienced everything himself. However, the episodes recounted can be traced back to Gérard’s memoirs.

In the opening, Gartman provides tips on the best seasons for hunting in Algeria. He then narrates specific episodes of his (allegedly) hunting experiences in Algeria. For instance, he recalls that in 1845, during a night hunting expedition he met a lion in the dark of the forest and successfully injured it with a gunshot. The next morning, local Arabs join the narrator in tracking down the wounded animal. The narration is interspersed with practical tips on lion hunting and extends to the author’s interactions with the local population. In another episode, this time from 1853, the author writes about villagers from the Aures mountains seeking the author’s help in dealing with a lion that has been troubling their community for a long time. The author’s ultimate advice is to never attempt to flee from a lion, but rather to confront it with any available weapon. Subsequent (and shorter) chapters of the book are devoted to the hunt of other animals, such as wild boars, jackals, foxes, deers, antelopes, and gazelles.

Bio

No information on Gartman could be found. It is, most likely, a pseudonym.

A.F., M.E.

Sources

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