Description
Under the blue sky
Book summary
In 1923, young Vivienne de Watteville, who had lost her mother, accompanied her father into the heart of Africa to collect specimens for the Natural History Museum of Bern. With no prior hunting experience, they both learned how to use firearms and perform taxidermy on the go. After securing the Big Five, a tragedy left 23-year-old Vivienne solely responsible for the expedition. This is the fascinating and true story of her journey, her loss, and her astonishing determination to complete the mission in the depths of Kenya, Uganda, and the Congo.
What is it about?
The work chronicles the real-life odyssey of a young English woman who, without prior preparation, ventured into the wild Africa of the 1920s. The story begins with a trip alongside her father, the naturalist Bernard de Watteville, with the goal of hunting animals for a scientific collection. As they traveled, father and daughter gained expertise in big game hunting and taxidermy, managing to take down lion, elephant, rhinoceros, buffalo, and leopard specimens. However, the expedition took a tragic turn when a lion attack ended Bernard’s life. Alone and leading sixty native men, Vivienne had to take command, provide food for the group, and fulfill the hunting permit, culminating her feat by hunting a white rhinoceros. The book is a testament to survival, resilience, and the transformation of an inexperienced young woman into an accomplished hunter and leader.
Main themes
- Scientific hunting expeditions in colonial Africa at the beginning of the 20th century.
- Extreme survival and female leadership in a hostile, male-dominated environment.
- The relationship between humans and the wild, from hunting to admiration.
- Grief and the capacity for personal growth in the face of tragic loss.
- The transition from sport hunting to wildlife observation and conservation.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at readers interested in classic travel literature, true adventures in the wild, and biographies of pioneering women. It will also be of great interest to fans of big game hunting, the history of African expeditions, and those looking for stories of personal perseverance under extreme conditions.
What this book offers
- A unique historical testimony of a scientific hunting expedition in 1920s Africa.
- A story of personal perseverance and unexpected leadership narrated in the first person.
- A detailed and authentic vision of wildlife, hunting techniques, and taxidermy of the era.
- The perspective of a young woman who challenged the conventions of her time to complete an almost impossible mission.
Technical specifications
- Author: De Watteville, Vivienne
- Publisher: Ediciones del Viento, S.L.
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: Hunting or sport shooting of animals, Travel literature
- Collection: Viento Simún
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: February 2023
- Number of pages: 320
- Weight: 610 g
Editorial review
Under the blue sky is a classic of travel and adventure literature that deserves to be rediscovered. The work stands out not only for the rawness and authenticity of its account but for the exceptional voice of its author, a young woman who combines a scientific gaze with uncommon sensitivity. It is a book that will captivate lovers of true survival stories and offers a unique perspective on an era and a continent in transition.