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 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. ( )

Published in 1960, Born Free remains an appealing account of how something wild can get into one’s heart. The more than 100 photos are a great help, forming a visual record of the efforts of author Joy Adamson and her husband George to raise a lion cub named Elsa. Elsa’s cubhood is a delight. It was followed by hard work that began when Elsa neared maturity and the Adamsons endeavored to return her to a wild life. The novelties of the experiences they had and the results of Elsa’s education in this radically different life never fail to interest.

Joy and George are awed by Elsa throughout and Joy’s book expresses great love for this lioness and also for the East African countryside in which she and her husband lived and traveled. George comments, “I really have no patience with people who maintain that an animal’s life and actions are governed by pure instinct and conditioned reflexes. Nothing except reasoning powers can explain the careful strategy used by a pride of lions in hunting, and the many examples we have had from Elsa of intelligent and thought-out behavior.”

Note: During the course of the story, George kills a lot of animals. Some are shot to feed Elsa. Some of it is in performance of his duties as game warden. Be forewarned if you know you’ll hate the killing. ( )

Ho un ricordo stupendo del telefilm tratto da questo libro...Allora ero una bambina, ma la vicenda di questa leonessa, di Joy e George che con cura allevarono questa cucciola mi ha emozionato nuovamente oggi, come lo fece allora.
Per il grande rispetto e amore che avevano per Elsa e per la sua natura, riuscirono a rimetterla in libertà.."
"Per quanto ci fossimo preparati al distacco e sperassimo di poter cosí dare a Elsa un avvenire migliore di quello che avrebbe avuto in cattività, il momento della separazione effettiva era una cosa molto diversa.
Elsa dovette sentire la mia commozione perché strofinava contro di me la sua soffice testa. ( )