One hears all kinds of uncharitable stuff said and written about Capstick. Some or all of it may be true but the poor chap is no longer here to defend himself so until someone does for Capstick what Capstick did for John Taylor in 'A Man Called Lion', my view is let him lie and let his books do the talking.
Capstick has left a legacy of exciting, pro-hunting, well written books based in a time much overlooked and disparaged by those nostalgic for the Edwardian era.
I read a very good biography of Henry Morton Stanley recently. Seems much of what was said and thought about him during his life was untrue, that much thought about him since his death was untrue but that he was guilty of making up certain stories about himself. None of that detracts from the frankly unbelievable achievements Stanley pulled off. He should have died a hundred times and should never have had the opportunity to do what he did.
Likewise, Capstick may have embellished, copied, borrowed, stories, drank too much, whatever. His body of work, in my opinion means he deserves our forgiveness for his human frailties and our admiration for what he produced.
