The Elephant Keeper… by Christopher Nicholson
“I asked the sailor what an Elephant looked like; he replied that it was like nothing on earth.”
“England, 1766: After a long voyage from the East Indies, a ship docks in Bristol, England, and rumor quickly spreads about its unusual cargo-some say a mermaid is on board. A crowd forms, hoping to catch a glimpse of the magical creature. One crate after another is unpacked: a zebra, a leopard, and a baboon. There’s no mermaid, but in the final two crates is something almost as magical-a pair of young elephants, in poor health but alive….
“Christopher Nicholson confronts sex, violence and power, but he does not shy away from less dramatic themes, such as gentleness and companionship, which help to make THE ELEPHANT KEEPER such a rewarding book.” Times Literary Supplement (London)
“An endearing account of a virtually telepathic relationship between man and animal.” (Booklist)
“A pleasingly ambling tale.” (Financial Times)
“THE ELEPHANT KEEPER evokes 18th-century village and estate life beautifully, and is stuffed with fascinating data from medical and veterinary history.” (The Independent (UK))
“A captivatingly original novel. This is a wonderful feat of story-telling, remarkable for its ability to wrench your heart without resorting to easy sentimentality.” (Daily Mail (London))
“Endearing… Like the elephant at its centre, Nicholson’s book is gentle, profound and sweet-natured.” (The Guardian)
£10.49 Amazon. Publisher: Fourth Estate Ltd (5 Jan 2009)
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