Bring 'Em Back Alive: The Best of Frank Buck

Bring 'Em Back Alive: The Best of Frank Buck is a compilation of excerpts from five of the eight books coauthored by animal collector and multi-platform media personality Frank Buck during his lifetime, as edited by writer and physician Steven Lehrer.

Bring 'Em Back Alive:
The Best of Frank Buck
AuthorFrank Buck, Edward Anthony, Ferrin Fraser, Carol Weld, Steven Lehrer
LanguageEnglish
Subjectnature, jungle animals, biography
Published2000
PublisherTexas Tech University Press
Publication placeUnited States
Pages256
ISBN0-89672-430-1
OCLC43207125
591.5
LC ClassQL61 .B78 2000
Websitestevenlehrer.com/buckweb

Buck's books are long out of print[1] and remain copyrighted,[a] and are thus generally inaccessible outside of academic or major municipal libraries. However, Buck's statements are a primary source on the exotic animal trade and development of American zoos in the early 20th century; The Best of Frank Buck has been assigned reading in a university course on the role of zoos in science and culture.[3] Buck is also an important figure in American cultural history, "as renowned in his day as Charles Lindbergh, Admiral Richard E. Byrd, or Babe Ruth."[4]

The scholarly introduction by Steven Lehrer is valuable source of historiography and biographical information on Buck and his three major coauthors, Edward Anthony, Ferrin Fraser, and Carol Weld. Buck's daughter Barbara Buck granted Lehrer permission to use her father's work and shared some photographs for publication.[5] The hardback edition endpapers are a "Bring 'Em Back Alive" map of Southeast Asia illustrated by Kurt Wiese.

Contents

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In addition to the chapters listed below, the book contains a 15-page introduction written by Lehrer, a references section, and an index.

Chapter No. Chapter Title Source Book Page No.
I. Tapir on a Rampage Bring 'Em Back Alive (1930) 3
II. Giant Jungle Man Bring 'Em Back Alive (1930), with excerpt from Fang and Claw (1935) 12
III. Jungle Laundress Bring 'Em Back Alive (1930) 31
IV. Chips Lends a Hand Bring 'Em Back Alive (1930) 40
V. Man-Eater Bring 'Em Back Alive (1930) 50
VI. Baby Boo Bring 'Em Back Alive (1930) 69
VII. Monkey Mothers Bring 'Em Back Alive (1930) 80
VIII. Elephant Temper Bring 'Em Back Alive (1930) 94
IX. Monkey Mischief Bring 'Em Back Alive (1930) 94
X. Loose on Board Bring 'Em Back Alive (1930) 124
XI. King Cobra Bring 'Em Back Alive (1930) 137
XII. The Patsy Wild Cargo (1932) 150
XIII. Killer of Killers Wild Cargo (1932) 162
XIV. A Bear in Time Wild Cargo (1932) 177
XV. Spitting Cobra Wild Cargo (1932) 186
XVI. Animal Magic Wild Cargo (1932) 195
XVII. Coiled Lightning Wild Cargo (1932), with excerpts from Animals Are Like That! (1940) and All in a Lifetime (1941) 207
XVIII. Terrible Tusks Wild Cargo (1932) 219
XIX. Striped Demon Wild Cargo (1932), with excerpt from Animals Are Like That! (1940) 243

Notes

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  1. ^ Animals Are Like That (1939) has entered the public domain in the United States and is available online via HathiTrust.[2]

References

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  1. ^ McLeod, Gerald E. (2008-05-02). "Day Trips: Frank Buck's Zoo in Gainesville may not be as well known as its larger-than-life namesake, but it is impressive nonetheless". Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 2022-12-18.
  2. ^ Buck, Frank; Weld, Carol (December 18, 1939). "Animals are like that". R.M. McBride and Co. – via HathiTrust.
  3. ^ McCain, Joe (2016). "HPSC3051 Zoos in Science and Culture" (PDF). University College London.
  4. ^ Fowler, Gene (March 2007). "Frank Buck: 'Still a Small-Town Texas Boy'". Texas Co-op Power. Retrieved 2022-12-18.
  5. ^ Buck, Frank (2000). Bring 'em back alive : the best of Frank Buck. Steven Lehrer. Lubbock, Tex.: Texas Tech University Press. ISBN 0-89672-430-1. OCLC 43207125.