Memoirs of a Randlord. LUCKY JIM. By J.B. Taylor

2003 Stonewall Books. Soft cover, 205 pages. As good as new. Shipping within SA is R20.

Born in Cape Town, J B Talyor was one of the Randlords who travelled to Kimberley after the discovery of diamonds, prospected in what was then the Eastern Transvaal, and was at the centre of events on the Rand at the time of discovery of gold. Taylor dealt with President Paul Kruger on behalf of the mining houses, got on well with the crusty old Boer leader, and as a result had many interesting tales to tell. Having a keen insight into what was coming, Taylor left South Africa for Britain before the Jameson Raid and the Anglo-Boer War, but after World War I returned to the Cape where he fished with Deneys Reitz in False Bay. This is a fairytale story of riches and success, as well as of down-to-earth adventure, hunting, fishing, travel and poineering entrepreneurship by a man who retired at 40 but went on to live a fulfilled life well into old age.