Black and white edition. A young man who grew up during the 1950s in South Florida, fed his imagination by reading books about the exploits of explorers and animal collectors that fueled his dreams of adventure, becomes an explorer of the wild American tropics. Danger and excitement are all in a day's work as he seeks to capture deadly pit vipers, giant poisonous frogs, land iguanas and boas, in deserts, on uninhabited islands, and steamy jungles. Those fond of travel to Florida, the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, and South America will appreciate his stories of the land, people, history, and wildlife in a recent past era. For fans of true-life adventure, the trials, and tribulations of seat-of-the-pants, solo travel, of dealing with unexpected dangers with only grit and determination, of being saved by angels too often to be just chance, will keep you hooked. Lovers of wildlife, especially reptiles, and the wild places where they live, will find hundreds of species mentioned in the text. Herpetologists, especially, will enjoy a nostalgic, factual look back at "how it was" in the wild world of herping in the 1960s and early '70s. Koulèv - Book One includes over 150 photos, clippings, tables, maps, suggested reading and cross-references. Approximately 110,000 words, with annotated table of contents, glossary, and detailed index. Long ago I met Dennis Cathcart by accident, literally and figuratively. He and a friend saw me and a friend get into a serious auto accident deep in the Florida Everglades. We began sharing life adventures involving reptiles almost immediately. Dennis had many real-life experiences in the West Indies by the time I met him. His storytelling captivated me just as his book will captivate you. Dennis was an early mentor at the time without knowing it. If you want a book to take you from weird, to almost unbelievable life adventures, this is the book for you. I'm in more than one of those surreal adventures myself! - Tom Crutchfield, Homestead, Florida, Tom Crutchfield - A Life Lived Among Venomous Snakes & Dangerous Reptiles Mr. Cathcart's honest portrayal of my father, his work and what it meant to not only Costa Rica, but the region, is excellent. While I was not alive during that time and only had my father with me for a short time after that, what I read gave me a greater understanding of a man, who even with his faults, made the world a better place while with us. I will always be grateful to Mr. Cathcart for sharing his experiences. - Lt. Col. Herschel H. Flowers Jr., US Army CBRN School, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri The author, Dennis Cathcart, has done a magnificent job with this book, sharing his lifetime of passion and drive for adventure. It is sure to bring enjoyment and excitement to every reptile enthusiast from amateur hobbyists to professionals alike. A walk back in time, starting in the epic days when South Florida was the center of the exotic reptile trade. Then it's on to adventures in the Caribbean, Costa Rica, and beyond, detailing history-making events. The book is just plain enjoyable. - Jack Facente, AGRITOXINS Venom Lab, St. Cloud, Florida. Board Member, King Cobra Conservancy https: //www.thekingcobra.org/ A pleasant walk down memory lane. When Dennis and I became friends, we formed a bond over a shared interest in collecting and studying reptiles. This went on for many years. Our travels together led us through most of the Caribbean, Mexico, Haiti and Florida...and some of the best times of my life. It's a great read. - Ed Chapman, Reptile Research Support, Inc., Homestead, Florida Meeting Dennis at the World Bromeliad Conference in 1994, I appreciated his abundant knowledge and sincerity; fortunately, we became good friends. Having enjoyed his writing style in his quarterly Cargo Report, my thought was always that a book of his adventures would be a super read-and it is! - Stephen Littlefield, Underhill Studio: https: //www.stephenlittlefield.com/ Koulèv: Adventures of an American Snake Hunter: Book One is my first book. Up to now, my writing experience has been magazine articles, newsletters (the Cargo Report, VIPP) and a few book chapters. With a lifetime of experience collecting reptiles and plants, of exploring, world travel and countless adventures, it was a natural that I'd eventually write a book. Now I plan a series of books, starting with Koulèv, hopefully to continue with stories of our other adventures from a lifetime of travel and field work. I sincerely hope that you enjoy my book, and that you will take the time to do an honest review.    Author Dennis Cathcart is a pioneer in the history of reptile collecting, having lived the life during the 1960s and '70s when the hobby was relatively obscure. After reading the works of Ditmars, Pope, Kauffeld, Beebe and other herpetologists and explorers, he set his life goal to experience similar amazing exploits.    He quickly entered the world of animal collectors, working for or associati