THERE are so few hunting books published in recent years that it was a pleasant surprise to have a new entry to the market, Scarlet Tales, which arrived in my post to review. It was additionally interesting as it tells the story of the oldest hunt in South Africa, the Cape Hunt, of which we usually don’t see coverage. It is a credit to author Janet Stevens, and also a reminder that every hunt should have an archivist to document its history and maintain a photographic portfolio particularly as sadly people pass on, and that vital connection and social history goes with them.

The Cape Hunt was founded in 1822 by the Cape Governor Lord Charles Somerset, a son of the fifth Duke of Beaufort who was born in Badminton House in Gloucestershire, where the Badminton Horse Trials are held. It is also where the Beaufort hounds are kennelled, the most chronicled animals in the world going back more than 60 generations, and their current master and huntsman is Will Bryer, who hunted the County Limerick Foxhounds.