Bushmaster: Raymond Ditmars and the Hunt for the World's Largest Viper

Interesting book on one of the pioneering herpetologists in the US and the first curator of reptiles at the Bronx Zoo. While the book is centered around Ditmars quest to acquire a Bushmaster, the largest of the new world vipers native to Central and South America, it also features glimpses into this extraordinary man's personal and family life, from his childhood in the late 19th century to his death in 1942. Interestingly, he was self taught yet achieved worldwide recognition as a reptile expert. While reptiles and amphibians were his forte, he became knowledgeable about many other aspects of natural history. He was fascinated by horses and studied weather with almost the same intensity that he pursued herptofauna. He pioneered the use of motion picture photography to popularize wildlife and released some of the first nature documentaries in the 1920's, narrating most of the films himself and using the Bronx Zoo animals as his featured subjects. He was also a devoted father and husband, and shared many of his adventures with his wife and daughters. The Ditmars narrative is told in flashbacks, with the author visiting some of Ditmars old haunts in New York, New England, the deep south, and one last final quest to find (not capture) a wild Bushmaster of his own on the island of Trinidad in between. Eatherly's writing style is simple, but engaging, frequently sprinkled with British dry wit. The book is probably a must for snake aficionados but should also be an enjoyable read by anyone interested in wildlife conservation history, early attempts at nature education and wildlife adventure.

When I was a boy, I got a copy of Raymond Ditmars' book _Snakes of the World_ at our elementary school's book fair. It piqued my interest in venomous snakes, which remains to this day (I'm now 66). This book is a biography of Ditmars. It will be of interest to anyone who loves snakes in particular and zoo animals in general (Ditmars was a zoo curator for many years).

I have mixed feelings.This is an interesting book in that is juxtaposes the authors look into Ditmars life. So you get some great Ditmars stories and some interesting factual and historical detail. Then there are chapters and the author goes around and talks to snake people and visits some historical sights.If you are expecting a Ditmars or snake wrangling book like Ionides MAMBAS AND MANEATERS you may not like this. It is more slow and thoughtful and not exactly filled with encounters with snakes.Well written and interesting, but do not expect adventures galore. I think the days of the wild man snake collectors are over.

Well researched. Interesting for the ophidophile and casual reader of an era of zoological history that began almost exactly 100 years ago.Who was it that said you can't go back?I was reading Stevens' Snakemaster at the same time and their teenage years closely mirrored each other. Go figure.

I have read all of Ditmar's books so there wasn't to much new information for me in this book.However there was enough new information in it that I was glad I bought the book.It is very interesting and about a very great man whom I have admired since childhood.If you are interested in snakes I think you will find this a good book to buy.

Good book for Ditmars fans.

The magic of Ditmars and snakes captured me in my youth decades ago. So this book seemed a worthy revisit, especially since I mostly do books these days as audio. But listening to the sample turned me off because of the reader's flat, almost automatic reading. Little sense that he's engaged by the topic. I've found many audiobooks enthralling, sometimes when read by the author, sometimes by 3rd parties. But if the sample is typical, not this book. One wonder how the readers are chosen: low bidder?

A little bit of too much information. It seemed there was quite a lot of irrelevant material making it a slow read.

This is a fascinating biography that has been written in an imaginative and clever way. Each chapter begins with an episode from Raymond Ditmars' life recreated as a dramatic scene, before going on to detail interesting events in the naturalist's life - such as how he would milk snakes for their venom or go in search of the creatures in foreign lands - and how the author has followed in Ditmars' footsteps in search of snakes inside and outside the USA. The various strands of the story have been weaved together extremely skillfully, making this a very engaging read. Highly recommended.

I ordered this book after reading Stolen World and Lizard King, both of which I highly recommend. Dan has written an easily readable interesting insight into Raymond Ditmars and his hunt for the legendary Bushmaster. I have already ordered some of Ditmars books to find out more about his life and work. Once again, highly recommend you read this one.

In contrast with many celebrities today you might say, the fame of Raymond Ditmars around a century ago was achieved through dedicated, passionate commitment to a cause, as skilfully brought to life by this sharp and witty tribute. Ditmars’ cause was opening up the natural world (especially snakes!) to a public audience, through adventure, writing, film-making and running the reptile house at the Bronx Zoo. Reflecting these aims of Ditmars, this book brings his story to a wider public including those (such as myself!) who are not experts in zoology or the natural world and may never have heard of Ditmars before. This an incisive and lively book that draws skilfully from detailed research, vividly conveying the wider social, as well as zoological, significance of Ditmars’ work.

I was recommended this book by a friend who told me to trust her and I'm glad I did.On the face of it "Bushmaster" is not the sort of title I would normally go for but it delivered on so many levels.From the charm and constant sense of adventure provided by the great Ray Ditmars to the evocative description of early 20th century New York and the way the author seamlessly weaves it in with his own voyage of discovery...AND then there's the snakes!If you like books about interesting people or books about wildlife or adventure stories or books about snakes or just good books in general, i'd give this a go. You won't be disappointed.

You would think that a book on snakes would be as dry as the dust that many snakes revel in . You could not be more wrong. From the opening pages this is an adventure book, a biology, a love story about a man's love or at least great enthusiasm for snakes. Dan drags you into his story and his enthusiasm is catching. I think that when he runs out of biology to write about he would make a great novelist