All the usuals, but with a strong preference for the British or European penchant for subtle understatement. Bell for efficiency and professionalism, Selous and Hodson for defeating enormous odds, Millais for perception and insight, etc.

A couple of my absolute favourites will probably not be mentioned by others though. 'Momella' by Maximilian von Rogister is nice slow pace easy-reading, very matter-of-fact and leaves the reader with a warm glow. At the opposite end of the spectrum is 'Jungle Man', the autobiography of Major P.J. Pretorius, real British 'boys-own' adventure! How the hell did that guy survive to write about it!

Sure, I've read Ruark's African hunting books of course, a couple of times, and they're all in my library, but I just can't come to grips with his constant struggle to exorcise personal demons by shooting some particular head of big game or other, more or less badly, followed by a self-congratulatory session of sucking on Chesterfields and gulping scotch.

....and I've really got to be in the mood for Capstick!