This is the story of an 1820 English Settler from Nottinghamshire UK, to Port Elizabeth, Cape of Good Hope Colony, who became a prolific elephant hunter and explorer extraordinaire of southern Africa . . .
. . This biography includes copies of original letters and notes written by Henry Hartley, and Thomas Baines.
Simon Hartley, whose grandfather's grandfather is Henry Hartley, commented. . ."There is something about a hand written note or letter that just wipes away the sands of time and puts you in the presence of the writer".

The original of this oil painting, by Thomas Baines, of Henry Hartley on a white horse was presented to his loyal friend on September 14, 1869.It has been handed down to descendants of his eldest son Frederick, includingAnne-Marie Moore (née Hartley).
Jane Carruthers, Professor Emeritus of Historyat theUniversity of South Africain Pretoria, is an authority on Thomas Baines and his southern African explorations and adventures in diaries, cartographical maps, paintings and sketches. Baines was a close travelling companion of Henry Hartley between 1869 and 1872. Jane remarked that "it will be useful to have a biography of Hartley, he was indeed an interesting man, and known as an explorer and hunter, and for his long life in the Magaliesberg area".