Life of Frederick Courtenay Selous, D.S.O., Capt. 25th Royal Fusiliers

Born into a bustling London household, he displayed an early blend of curiosity and vigor, spending schooldays at Rugby immersed in books of travel and daring escapades on the playing field. Even as a teenager he ventured beyond the classroom, chasing butterflies, sketching birds, and honing an instinct for observation that would later define his work. These formative years cultivated a restless spirit eager to trade familiar streets for untamed horizons.

That yearning led him to the heart of Southern Africa, where he joined seasoned hunters on expeditions that blended sport with scientific inquiry. His keen eye produced striking illustrations and meticulous notes, later forming the backbone of celebrated natural‑history volumes on mammals, ducks, and the wildfowl of Scotland. Along the way he forged a friendship with former President Theodore Roosevelt, whose admiration lent a transatlantic echo to his adventures. Listeners will discover a portrait of a man whose youthful energy blossomed into a lifelong pursuit of discovery, charting the frontier between hunter and scholar.