Joy Adamson (1910–1980)

There have been many accounts of the return to the wild of tame animals, but since tis original publication in 1960, when the New York times hailed it as a "fascinating and remarkable book", Born Free has stood alone in its power to move us.

Adult nonfiction; safari memoirs (circa 1950s - copyright 1960). This is quite the incredible (and very much ill-advised) story, but I thought the writing was just ok (and the dated preconceptions of animals, including the repeated personification of Elsa, to be distracting). A friend had recommended this to me (it is her favorite book of all time; she has read the whole series), but I don't think I could recommend this to another.

I went through a Joy Adamson phase after seeing a film based on "Born Free" while visiting my great-aunt, who had cable TV. Of all her books, I enjoyed her Pippa stories most.

I probably read this book dozens of times as a child, sitting quietly in an upstairs bedroom in my grandparents' house. A must read for any nature lover.