The Strange Life of Charles Waterton

 by Richard Aldington

New York: Duell, Sloan & Pearce, 1949.  This wonderfully eccentric character Charles Waterton rode crocodiles, perfected taxidermy techniques and faked exotic taxidermed animals, created the first bird sanctuary, travelled, walked on his hands, climbed trees, never drank, and enjoyed a long and strange life, despite his habit of copious bleedings.  A favorite over here at High Valley Books, and you might enjoy it too.  Attractive dust jacket has a little loss here & there, faded spine.