In his use of the African setting, in his appreciation of the great white hunter, in his pared down literary style, Ruark is the heir of Hemingway.

Not only in his writing, but in his style of living, he attempted to emulate his literary hero. His style differs from that of Hemingway in its more graphic depictions of violent actions, an approach used by such writers as William Burroughs. His writing is certainly in the tradition of the novelists who wrote about World War II, such as Norman Mailer and James Jones.

His social philosophy has been compared to that of Ayn Rand, in its insistence on the privileges and responsibilities of the strong man. His literary techniques, as well as his interest in contemporary society, have been com pared to that of John O'Hara. His belief in the moral and educative value of hunting is...