The Leopard in the Luggage: Urban Legends from Southern Africa - Arthur Goldstuck

This story may sound like fiction or farce, but it happens to be true, because it actually happened to a well-known Johannesburg businessman. Mr X was a man who enjoyed fishing and hunting and he would often take a trip into the country with his friends from the club to indulge in his favourite pastime. On one fishing trip, they had had a few sips too many from the wine bag before they took to the river. The motion of the boat didn't help matters, and suddenly Mr X lurched to the side of the boat and threw up into the water. Along with his breakfast, however, went his false teeth. The dentures disappeared into the murky water, seemingly lost forever. Before long, one of his two cronies was lucky enough to hook a large fish. Mr X didn't pay much attention to the catch as he was too depressed by his loss. His companions decided to pull a fast one on him, and one of them put his own set of false teeth into the fish's mouth. They thrust it at him trium-phantly and said, "Look! We found your false teeth!" The man grabbed the fish in delight and whipped out the teeth. He examined them, and his face dropped. "They're not mine," he said sadly. And threw them over the side. Well, they said it was a true story... The Leopard in the Luggage is Arthur Goldstuck's second book of urban legends and myths, following on the very successful The Rabbit in the Thorn Tree. This time he has broadened his horizons and used material from outside the boundaries of South Africa, culling legends from all over the continent. The book contains a wealth of fascinating material which will engage the urban legend devotee as well as intrigue readers discovering these stories for the first time. The book includes the legend from whence the title comes, as well as THE SNAKES IN THE SUITCASE, THE BABY IN THE HIGHCHAIR, DOGCHILD HORROR and THE GOLDEN 10C COIN. ARTHUR GOLDSTUCK is the former News Editor of The Weekly Mail. He is also the author of Making Money From Freelance Journalism in South Africa.

Condition: Good