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Joy Adamson—Naturalist

Birth

Using her own notes and George’s journals, Joy Adamson constructed the book Born Free.

Joy Adamson, the author of the Born Free trilogy, inspired a generation of conservationists but was murdered by an employee.

Fame

Naturalist and wildlife preservationist Joy Adamson is best known for the books and films depicting her work in Africa, especially her inspirational book Born Free.

He and his wife Joy Adamson are best known through the book and film Born Free, which depicts the true story of Elsa, an orphaned lioness cub they raised and later released into the wild.

Work

The now-famous story of Joy & George Adamson, who raised an orphaned cub and prepared her for her inevitable return to the wild.

During Elsa’s lifetime, Joy and George Adamson needed each other to educate her, but after she was dead and her cubs were forever free, their interests went in separate directions, and so did their lives.

Adamson was born in Dholpur, Rajasthan, India (then British India) in 1906. He first visited Kenya in 1924. After a series of adventures, which included time as a gold prospector, he joined Kenya's game department in 1938 and, six years later, married Joy. It was in 1956 that he came to have Elsa the lioness who would gain world fame and affection. George Adamson retired as a game warden in 1963 and devoted himself to his many lions.

Joy Adamson, conservationist and author of Born Free (killed by a servant in northern Kenya).

Joy Adamson, Painter/photographer/naturalist/writer ("Born Free"), Joy Friederike Victoria Gessner (Troppau, Silesia 20 January 1910 - 3 January 1980).

Joy Adamson was born Friederike Victoria Gessner on January 20, 1910, in Troppau, Silesia, Austria, to a wealthy Austrian family.

Joy Adamson, who was born Friederike Victoria Gessner in 1910 in Austria, was one of those people who inspired as much admiration as she did hatred.