Reginald Campbell


Reginald Campbell was a British writer and former Naval officer in WWI then an assistant forest manager in Siam in the 1920s. His novel Poo Lorn of the Elephants was filmed by Alejandro Jodorowsky in 1980 under the name Tusk. Another novel, Tiger Valley, was filmed in 1936 by Howard Bretherton as The Girl from Mandalay. He described his personal experiences from Thailand in the book Teak-Wallah: The Adventures of a Young Englishman in Thailand in the 1920s.
In his book Teak Wallah, he describes a character called Smith who was his assistant in Muang Ngow - Flight Lieutenant 'Dick' Frederick Murison who almost died from fever in the teak jungle and later served as a bomber pilot in Afghanistan in the late 20s. Orwell may be Mr W. Elder, Forest Manager of Anglo-Siam Forest Company, a heroic figure who lived amongst the elephants of Muang Ngow near Lakon and retired in Riverhead, Kent dying in about 1935. He gives a fairly accurate appraisal of life as an assistant forest manager with its dangers from disease and wild animals while logging teak with elephants.
Campbell also wrote a book about an elephant breeder and trader in Siam in the 1920s, which is a ripping yarn but scarcely believable called "Jungle Nights". The rapturous conclusion is a full on Roman style elephant charge in phalanx formation against the evil Mongol elephant trader who is stampeding a wild herd into his compound that is unintentionally hilarious. Tubby Kenson's character,, may be based partly on Fred Murison to whom Reggie handed his signed book to in Dec 1934. Fred was not impressed. The book should be turned into a comedy movie of the period it is so poorly written. He writes in a simple stilted 1920s fashion of heroes and villains, also damsels in distress. He could not be classified as a great writer by any stretch of the imagination. This book is out of print and rare.
He wrote "Cruiser In Action" about his Naval experiences. 'Fear in the Forest' more jungle stuff.
Works of Campbell
Note: non-exhaustive list. For novels, the date shown is the oldest found.
Published in France for the first time in 1935; Paris: Editions of the "New Critical Review," collection "of Angles' n o 16; translated by Hélène Jeandidier; 253 p. Reissue in 1946, Paris, G.-T. Rageot, "Happy Hours" collection; illustrations by Roger Treille.
Published in France for the first time in 1936; Paris: Hachette, collection "The Best Foreign Novels"; translated by Marie-Louise Chaulin; 252 p. Reissue in 1948, 1950, Paris, Hachette, collection " Green Library ", trad. Marie-Louise Chaulin, illustrations by Mixi; 1952, Hachette, collection of great novelists.
1935 : In the Siamese Forest 1
Published in France for the first time in 1935; Paris: Hachette, collection "The Best Foreign Novels"; translated by Marie-Louise Chaulin; 256 p. Reedition in 1946, Paris, Hachette, " Green Library " collection , translated by M.-L. Chaulin, illustrations by André Hofer; 1952, Hachette, Ideal-Library collection, illustrations by François Batet. ; 1964, daily L'Humanité, published in serial, put in images by Jean Dorville.
Published in France for the first time in 1937; Paris: Hachette, collection "The Best Foreign Novels"; translated by Maurice Rémon; 256 p. Reissue in 1947, Paris, " Green Library " collection , trans. Maurice Rémon, illustrations by Henri Faivre.
Published in France for the 1 st time in 1951, Paris, Librairie des Champs-Elysees, collection " The Mask " n o 392, translated by Perrine Vernay; 253 p.
Published in France for the first time in 1946; Paris, Editions Rouff, coll. " The Key " n o 41
Published in France for the first time in 1956; Paris, Brussels, Editions de l'Amitié, collection "Happy Hours" Nature n o 103; translated by Germaine Guillemot-Magitot, illustrations by R. Dallet; 208 p. Reissue in 1978, Paris: Gallimard, collection Folio junior, translated by Mr. Guillemot-Magitot, illustrations by Bernard Héron, 189 p.
Notes
A work translated into Spanish under the title Noche en la selva does not correspond to any translation of title in English: is it a work that appears in the list under another title?
Given the large number of authors named Reginald and Campbell, it is not easy to say that all titles are from the same writer. However, the writings of the jungle, Thailand, elephants, tigers are certainly his. Doubt arises when detective novels are found, especially when they are published after death; but they can also be attempts to write in another genre and posthumous editions.
He became popular with the French due to the movie Tusk which was made by the French and considered a very dull film, but got a kind of cult following due to the director.