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Cover Image of A training school for elephants
  • Non-fiction
  • 2025
  • First Grove Atlantic hardcover editon.

A training school for elephants

Sophy Roberts

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"Out of a sidelined, colonial-era expedition in Africa comes a new story of cruelty, deception and adventure from the acclaimed author of The Lost Pianos of Siberia. In 1879, King Leopold II of Belgium launched an ambitious plan to plunder Africa's resources. The key to cracking open the continent, or so he thought, was its elephants-if only he could train them. And so he commissioned the charismatic Irish adventurer Frederick Carter to ship four tamed Asian elephants from India to the East African coast, where they were marched inland towards Congo. The ultimate aim was to establish a training school for African elephants. Following in the footsteps of the four elephants, Roberts pieces together the story of this long-forgotten expedition, in travels that take her to Belgium, Iraq, India, Tanzania, and Congo. The storytelling brings to life a compelling cast of historic characters and modern voices, from ivory dealers to Catholic nuns, set against rich descriptions of the landscapes travelled. In an original weave of past and present, she digs deep into historic records revealing an extraordinary-and enduring-story of colonial greed, hypocrisy, and folly"--

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On loan until: 13/Jun/25 Calvin Park Branch Non 916.70423 Rob
On loan until: 13/Jun/25
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Title Statement A training school for elephants / Sophy Roberts.
Author Roberts, Sophy
Publication New York: Atlantic Monthly Press,2025.
Edition First Grove Atlantic hardcover editon.
Extent of Item xvii, 412 pages
ISBN 9780802164865 (hardcover)
Other Number pr07916209
General Notes Colour illustrations on endpapers.
Contents Prologue to an adventure --Shopping for an elephant --The Paris of East Africa --Sink or swim --Miss Kisabengo --Big with blessing --Acacia horrida --The land of the moon --Chief of chiefs --Fish without number --Paradise plains --Two tin boxes.
Bibliography Includes bibliographical references and index.
Summary "Out of a sidelined, colonial-era expedition in Africa comes a new story of cruelty, deception and adventure from the acclaimed author of The Lost Pianos of Siberia. In 1879, King Leopold II of Belgium launched an ambitious plan to plunder Africa's resources. The key to cracking open the continent, or so he thought, was its elephants-if only he could train them. And so he commissioned the charismatic Irish adventurer Frederick Carter to ship four tamed Asian elephants from India to the East African coast, where they were marched inland towards Congo. The ultimate aim was to establish a training school for African elephants. Following in the footsteps of the four elephants, Roberts pieces together the story of this long-forgotten expedition, in travels that take her to Belgium, Iraq, India, Tanzania, and Congo. The storytelling brings to life a compelling cast of historic characters and modern voices, from ivory dealers to Catholic nuns, set against rich descriptions of the landscapes travelled. In an original weave of past and present, she digs deep into historic records revealing an extraordinary-and enduring-story of colonial greed, hypocrisy, and folly"--
Subjects & Genres
By Topic Asiatic elephant--Congo (Democratic Republic)
By Name Carter, Frederick Falkner,1841-1880--Travel--Africa, East
Royal Elephant Expedition
Roberts, Sophy--Travel
By Location Belgium--Colonies--Africa
Congo (Democratic Republic)--Colonization
Congo (Democratic Republic)--History--19th century
By Genre Biographies
Personal narratives
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