The Elephant Keeper [Hardcover]

Christopher Nicholson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 4, 2009

I asked the sailor what an Elephant looked like; he replied that it was like nothing on earth.In the middle of the 18th century, a ship docks at Bristol with an extraordinary cargo: two young elephants. Bought by a wealthy landowner, they are taken to his estate in the English countryside. A stable boy, Tom Page, is given the task of caring for them.The Elephant Keeper is Tom’s account of his life with the elephants. As the years pass, and as they journey across England, his relationship with the female elephant deepens in a startling manner. Along the way they meet incredulity, distrust and tragedy, and it is only their understanding of each other that keeps them together.Christopher Nicholson’s charming and captivating novel explores notions of sexuality and violence, freedom and captivity, and the nature of story-telling – but most of all it is the study of a profound and remarkable love between an elephant and a human being.

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A tale by BBC radio documentary producer Nicholson about a man and an elephant canters along at a delightful pace, from the first meeting between the two on the quay in Bristol, England. In 1773, Tom Page writes a history of the well-trained elephant, Jenny, and his life as a humble groom for the Harrington family's elephants that he learned to care for as a teenager. Lizzy Tindall, a bold young maid, endears herself to Tom and his elephants, but when the female, Jenny, is sold, Lizzy urges Tom to stay—that Jenny is only an Elephant. Tom, outraged, chooses to go with Jenny. The animal and keeper communicate, converse even, in their quarters in the elephant house. The pair subsequently move from master to master, ending up in a miserable menagerie in London. Befogged and befuddled in the cruel city, an aged Tom strays from Jenny only to discover that his respect for the tenderhearted elephant is singular. Nicholson's elegiac alternate endings leave only the memory of their lasting bond—the elephant's legendary ability to never forget is finally ours. (Aug.)
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From Bookmarks Magazine

Had Christopher Nicholson simply tried to write a historical novel of the 18th century, critics probably would not have liked his book quite so much. Most of them found at least one aspect of the book that bothered them—from the occasional flat character to inconsistent pacing to episodes they felt didn't make sense. But all were so charmed by the writing and by the way the author develops the characters of the pachyderms Timothy and Jenny, as well as their relationship to Tom, that they were happy to recommend the book even to those readers who aren't animal people.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow; 1 edition (August 4, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061651605
• ISBN-13: 978-0061651601
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (73 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #279,644 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars In Captivity, July 25, 2009

By 

Miz Ellen "all the letters of my real name" (Bovine Universe) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Elephant Keeper (Hardcover)

(What's this?)

This lyrical and moving story explores the relationship of human to captive animal with a depth and intensity that makes it a must-read for any animal lover. The story is narrated by Tom Page who is well-launched on a career working with horses when his master buys two baby elephants, both ill from the long voyage to England. Tom devotedly nurses them back to health and at first all is well.

But as the male elephant reaches sexual maturity a change comes over his personality and he becomes harder to control. Also Tom's master finds the expense of feeding the elephants too much for his purse. First the male is sold to a distant nobleman. With a wrench of conscience, Tom Page chooses to stay with the more timid female, because he is afraid the head groom will maltreat her in his absence. When the female is sold, Tom faces an even greater wrench. Does he abandon his animal charge to stay with his sweetheart? Obviously, for the sake of the story, he does stays with the elephant that he has mentally dubbed Jenny, and thereby hangs the tale...

As the story progresses, the reader wonders who is keeping whom? Jenny the Elephant is a captivating character, holding her keeper by her side and the reader in thrall. Do the long conversations that Tom has with her represent real communication or are the the result of an internal monologue? Without Jenny, these thoughts would never occur to Tom.

This subtle historical novel opens around 1766 and the fictional events transpire as the American Revolution unfolds and Great Britain builds an empire. However, events in the larger world have little place in this story. Tom only mentions such things as touch directly upon him or his charges. This close focus gives the book unexpected depth. The moment I finished the book, I wanted to read it again. The author challenged me with his mode of ending it. On one hand, this seems to be a way of making the story less bleak, but on the other, it's risky for the author to inject himself into the narrative. Does this ending justify the author's means? I invite other animal lovers to read this excellent work with close attention and decide the answer for themselves.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars "But this IS a prison!", August 15, 2009

By 

Shiloh True "Rabid Reader" (Texas) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Elephant Keeper (Hardcover)

(What's this?)

'THE ELEPHANT KEEPER,' is a very unusual, animal driven, historical tale, evoking 18th century grandeur, as well as the sad reality of the Peasant class---those who were as much beasts-of-burden, as any other perceived sub-species. The chief protagonist is Tom Page, a groomsman's son, who becomes the caretaker of two elephants upon their arrival to Bristol, from the West Indies. The adventure chronicles their struggles, as they are moved from an environment of kindness and security, on an opulent estate, to situations tolerable only by the deep love and bond between them, that Tom refuses to break. The elephants', Timothy and Jenny, are clearly the stars in this relatively slow, and frequently sad read, making up for some moments of contrived and illogical plotting.

The writing, itself, is top notch, utilizing archaic terms and words, spattered throughout that set the time period adequately, while not being so overdone as to make the reading difficult, which is often the case. The settings are vividly described, without being wordy, and the characterization and personification of Jenny is superb. I suspect that every reader that ruminates about this novel, will think warmly of Jenny, first, even if they have grievances with the novel, as a whole.

Tom's bond with Jenny appears to be one of obsession and mental telepathy. They have some wonderful, humorous interactions, and, it is clear Jenny is a brilliant animal. But she also becomes the vehicle for Tom's unseemly fantasies and for projecting his undesirable feelings and emotions. This is where I began to have issues with Tom's development. Jenny appears to become Tom's conscience, as he struggles with good, over evil. At times, I thought he was on the brink of madness. There are elements of Tom's personality, when faced with increasing despair, that come in conflict with his earlier development, leading to some unsettling scenes, that just didn't fall into character, for this reader.

In spite of some reservations, I recommend this novel for anyone who has ever been fascinated by elephants. There is a wealth of information about this wonderful creature throughout this historical jaunt. It is also a good reminder, that humans and animals, alike, frequently share shackles. Tom was as much of a prisoner as his beloved elephants---his sacrifices, as great. The difference being, that Tom chose his role, the elephants weren't as fortunate.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars From singing prose, to false notes, August 7, 2009

By 

J. Mullally "booklover4ever00" (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Elephant Keeper (Hardcover)

(What's this?)

The Elephant Keeper starts out as a magnificent novel, then fizzles about 3/4ths of the way through, to become a dark depressing book with none of the joy and wonder of the first part.

Tom and Jenny the elephant are wonderful, as is Timothy, but when Timothy goes into his rut, and is eventually sold, things go downhill rapidly in Tom the keeper's life.

The parts which describe the elephants are fascinating and fun, but Tom the keeper as the `hero' of the book is flat. The nonsense about looking for his lost love, and then her not being what he wants her to be when he finally gets the nerve to go back home, is disjointed and absurd.

The beginning of the book is 5 stars, about 120 pages of sheer brilliance, which I could not put down. The ending of the book becomes luridly Victorian, about a 2 star.

Once again, here is an author with clear talent who makes a poor choice, and allows their narrative structure to get in the way of what they are really trying to communicate. If you love elephants, you will love this book if you read only the first part of it. But we know what will happen--no one lives forever, after all. It is just a question of how and when. The author tries to explain it, but the last section in the modern period makes the whole thing end with a whimper, not a bang.

All in all, I loved the first part of the book and am glad I read it. The writing there positively sings with joy and enthusiasm. The parts in London, I really could have done without, they are so discordant.