Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Harper (HarperCollins)
Pages
298
Description
In 1766, a ship docks at Bristol, England, disgorging a crate with two young elephants in poor health, but alive. A wealthy sugar merchant purchases them for his country estate and turns their care over to a young stable boy, Tom Page. It takes time for Tom and the two elephants to understand each other, but to the surprise of everyone on the estate, a remarkable bond is formed, and changes the lives of all who meet them.
Description
A poignant and magical story set in eighteenth-century England, The Elephant Keeper by Christopher Nicholson is the tale of two baby elephants and the young man who accidentally finds himself their guardian. Every reader who was enchanted by Sara Gruen’s Water for Elephants or enthralled by When Elephants Weep will adore Nicholson’s The Elephant Keeper—a masterful blending of historical novel, coming-of-age tale, animal adventure, and love story.
Collection
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2009
Physical description
298 p.; 8 inches
ISBN
0061651613 / 9780061651618
Similar in this library
Media reviews
The Elephant Keeper set in the 18th century is about a caretaker and his relationship with two elephants Timothy and Jenny. It's about the bond between them, the training, and the keeping. The devotion to Timothy and Jenny is charming, and engaging. From the very beginning Tom is a very likable
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character, though as the story progresses you begin to wonder if Tom has lost his marbles. The story gets wierd and loses momentum half way through. The "conversations" between Tom and the elephant were ridiculous, but if the author was trying to convey a love between them, well, he certainly did that. The writing was consistant with the time period. At times the story felt disjointed, but it wasn't so much so that you could get lost. Final word, The Elephant Keeper wasn't a hit, but it wasn't a miss either. I would give the author another try.
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User reviews
LibraryThing member mrstreme
For an animal lover like me, it’s hard to dislike The Elephant Keeper by Christopher Nicholson. The main character, Tom Page, is a likeable guy, who devoted his life to care for two elephants in late 18th century England. The elephants were all personality – characters that you loved and wanted
The Elephant Keeper, however, is the perfect example on how interesting characters alone can’t make a good book. The writer must add other ingredients – writing style, plot development and credibility – to the book to make it a story. Unfortunately, these final key elements were lacking in Nicholson’s debut novel.
What frustrated me about The Elephant Keeper was that Nicholson had these elements in the first book of the book. This is the section written by Tom as a “history” of the elephants under his care. Then, the story shifted to the present day, and the whole thing lost its luster. I questioned Tom’s reliability as the narrator, found his conversations with the elephant Jenny to be troubling and was disappointed that the ending tied no loose ends. If only Nicholson could have kept everything as a “history,” I think the story would have fared better.
Where I give Nicholson credit, though, was his depiction of Jenny. Her calm demeanor as an observer of the human race was insightful. Like Rose from Water for Elephants, Jenny had a sense of right and wrong, a wicked sense of humor and love for those who loved her. She was Tom’s faithful companion and the one constant thread throughout the novel.
If you can take The Elephant Keeper at face value – a story about a man and his elephants – than you will enjoy this book. It’s a nice escape into historic England and love between humans and animals.
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the best for.The Elephant Keeper, however, is the perfect example on how interesting characters alone can’t make a good book. The writer must add other ingredients – writing style, plot development and credibility – to the book to make it a story. Unfortunately, these final key elements were lacking in Nicholson’s debut novel.
What frustrated me about The Elephant Keeper was that Nicholson had these elements in the first book of the book. This is the section written by Tom as a “history” of the elephants under his care. Then, the story shifted to the present day, and the whole thing lost its luster. I questioned Tom’s reliability as the narrator, found his conversations with the elephant Jenny to be troubling and was disappointed that the ending tied no loose ends. If only Nicholson could have kept everything as a “history,” I think the story would have fared better.
Where I give Nicholson credit, though, was his depiction of Jenny. Her calm demeanor as an observer of the human race was insightful. Like Rose from Water for Elephants, Jenny had a sense of right and wrong, a wicked sense of humor and love for those who loved her. She was Tom’s faithful companion and the one constant thread throughout the novel.
If you can take The Elephant Keeper at face value – a story about a man and his elephants – than you will enjoy this book. It’s a nice escape into historic England and love between humans and animals.
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LibraryThing member SugarCreekRanch
The Elephant Keeper is a fictional story of a young horse groom who takes on the care of two elephants in 1700's England. The book is formatted as if Tom Page is writing it, as a record of the elephants' lives. It follows Tom and the elephants for several decades.
This book was just a so-so read for
This book was just a so-so read for
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me. It was a little too slow and thoughtful to keep me fully engaged. Show Less
LibraryThing member jjameli
The Elephant Keeper set in the 18th century is about a caretaker and his relationship with two elephants Timothy and Jenny. It's about the bond between them, the training, and the keeping. The devotion to Timothy and Jenny is charming, and engaging. From the very beginning Tom is a very likable
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character, though as the story progresses you begin to wonder if Tom has lost his marbles. The story gets wierd and loses momentum half way through. The "conversations" between Tom and the elephant were ridiculous, but if the author was trying to convey a love between them, well, he certainly did that. The writing was consistant with the time period. At times the story felt disjointed, but it wasn't so much so that you could get lost. Final word, The Elephant Keeper wasn't a hit, but it wasn't a miss either. I would give the author another try. Show Less
LibraryThing member Sararush
Christopher Nicholson’s The Elephant Keeper is a surprisingly melancholy re-imagining of what is must have been like to introduce exotic animals into late eighteenth century England. The first half of the novel is a sweet mix of coming of age and innocent love story of Elephants and their Keeper,
Told in Dickensian style, the novel is very well written, and the elephants are undeniable endearing. Those who prefer a happy ending, or are looking for a heart warming tale of a boy and an elephant, this is not that book. Instead this book broaches tougher topics, and paints a bleak picture of lower class eighteen century lifestyles. Surprisingly layered and at times disturbing The Elephant Keeper is memorable if not enjoyable debut novel.
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Tom. The second half of the book darkens and depicts Tom’s full blown obsession with his charges. Tom commits his life to the elephant’s care, dissociating himself with human kind in favor of his beasts. He makes several questionable moral decision is pursuit of the interest of his elephants. The result is a complicated and sad portrayal of loyalty and friendship.Told in Dickensian style, the novel is very well written, and the elephants are undeniable endearing. Those who prefer a happy ending, or are looking for a heart warming tale of a boy and an elephant, this is not that book. Instead this book broaches tougher topics, and paints a bleak picture of lower class eighteen century lifestyles. Surprisingly layered and at times disturbing The Elephant Keeper is memorable if not enjoyable debut novel.
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LibraryThing member davidroche
In order to fall in love with an elephant (forget Dumbo - mumbo jumbo), either:
1. Go to 'the Indies', get as close as you can to being a mahout for a day: ride an elephant, feed it, give it a bath, sit on it and scrub its sides and head. Then sit on its neck while it showers you with its trunk and
or
2. Read this book
1. Go to 'the Indies', get as close as you can to being a mahout for a day: ride an elephant, feed it, give it a bath, sit on it and scrub its sides and head. Then sit on its neck while it showers you with its trunk and
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then gives you a 'blessing'. or
2. Read this book
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LibraryThing member amtilrc
This book took me away to a world far away. It was a very nice flowing read in the beginning as I learned about the characters and about being an Elephant Keeper. Tom is a great character, and it was enjoyable to learn how he aquires these two elephants. The second part of the book had me
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questioning what had happedned? Why was Tom involved with wild women? Was it becase he had wild animals? But then again, lovely boys become certain type of men that leave some questioning. Show Less
LibraryThing member Zathras86
The first half of this novel, in which the narrator sets out a "True History of an Elephant" up until the time of writing, is incredibly charming. The author's pastiche of a late eighteenth-century writing style occasionally seems forced, but for the most part one is willing to let it slide,
Once the narrative is brought to Tom's "present" it begins to fall apart. It is clear that the author wanted to end the idyllic situation in which the "True History" was begun and throw the main characters on some hard times, but he did not seem to have a clear aim in doing so. The story becomes disjointed, and the switch from a mutual understanding between Tom and the elephant to transcribed conversations between them makes the reader wonder whether the narrator is slowly losing his mind. (In the author's defense, this may be the point, but if so it didn't lead anywhere interesting.) There is no strong conclusion to the story; rather, the narrative just peters out, ending in a vague, wishful fantasy of what might have happened to the pair after the closing of the circus where we last see them.
The Elephant Keeper is an entertaining story with a strong beginning. You will fall in love with the characters, and in spite of the weak ending it was a pleasant afternoon's read. The editor's introduction compares it to a childhood favorite of mine, Where the Red Fern Grows, and while it isn't as well-crafted, it does share a certain heartwarming quality with that book.
While I'm unlikely to reread this any time soon, I'll probably keep an eye out for other works by this author. If he can find the right story arc, his writing and character development are good enough to do much better.
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because Tom Page is a likable narrator, and the story of how he met, trained, and grew attached to a pair of elephants is engaging and sweet. Once the narrative is brought to Tom's "present" it begins to fall apart. It is clear that the author wanted to end the idyllic situation in which the "True History" was begun and throw the main characters on some hard times, but he did not seem to have a clear aim in doing so. The story becomes disjointed, and the switch from a mutual understanding between Tom and the elephant to transcribed conversations between them makes the reader wonder whether the narrator is slowly losing his mind. (In the author's defense, this may be the point, but if so it didn't lead anywhere interesting.) There is no strong conclusion to the story; rather, the narrative just peters out, ending in a vague, wishful fantasy of what might have happened to the pair after the closing of the circus where we last see them.
The Elephant Keeper is an entertaining story with a strong beginning. You will fall in love with the characters, and in spite of the weak ending it was a pleasant afternoon's read. The editor's introduction compares it to a childhood favorite of mine, Where the Red Fern Grows, and while it isn't as well-crafted, it does share a certain heartwarming quality with that book.
While I'm unlikely to reread this any time soon, I'll probably keep an eye out for other works by this author. If he can find the right story arc, his writing and character development are good enough to do much better.
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LibraryThing member sebago
I received an early release edition of The Elephant Keeper. I found the first half of the novel captivating. - Tom's struggle to put into words, his words, the history of elephants - His devotion to Jenny and Timothy. But with the painful separation of Timothy and Jenny, the subsequent sales of
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Jenny to various well to do land owners and then finally to Mr. Cross -the owner of a menagerie I found my connection with the characters wavering. I found that I liked the "child" Tom much more than the adult. The development of “conversations” between Jenny and Tom were a bit disturbing. The ending was left to the reader. What actually happened to Jenny and Tom after the menagerie as sold off? Show Less
LibraryThing member peppergrape
I am an avid reader, finishing over 300 books last year alone. That being said, this book was not my cup of tea. I read the first 2 sections and just couldn't get any further. The writing was wonderful, the descriptions great. It was the subject matter, elephants, that I just couldn't get into. I
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passed it on to someone who would enjoy it more than I. I do feel the author did a great job of presenting the story, it was just not a story that I related to or enjoyed. Show Less
LibraryThing member DianaCoats
When I first received this book from the Early Reviewers program I was heartily involved in reading another book so I loaned the book to a co-worker. She came in the next day with sparkling eyes, saying that she LOVED it; "It's the best book I've read in a long time". Now...she and I are like oil
I find that I agree with numerous other people in liking the first half of the book quite a bit better than the last. I found myself much more interested in Tom Page (The Elephant Keeper) as a young man, than Tom Page as an adult, six-pence-ing his way through London with women he tried to make into his childhood sweetheart who he had forsaken for her lack of understanding about the Elephants.
Animal lovers will no doubt equally feel both joy at the passages about the good parts of the Elephant's lives and repulsion at the treatment of both them and other animals throughout. (Definitely not PETA approved)
If you are one of those readers who thinks that a book cannot just be a story telling without moral or emphatic end, then the Elephant Keeper will probably leave you lacking in some way. If you are happy with prose on its own merit then I shall think you will find this easy and fast read by Christopher Nicholson, a good companion for an afternoon.
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and water so that wasn't enough to coax me into just "accepting" that the book would intrigue me or that I would fancy it as a marvelous read.I find that I agree with numerous other people in liking the first half of the book quite a bit better than the last. I found myself much more interested in Tom Page (The Elephant Keeper) as a young man, than Tom Page as an adult, six-pence-ing his way through London with women he tried to make into his childhood sweetheart who he had forsaken for her lack of understanding about the Elephants.
Animal lovers will no doubt equally feel both joy at the passages about the good parts of the Elephant's lives and repulsion at the treatment of both them and other animals throughout. (Definitely not PETA approved)
If you are one of those readers who thinks that a book cannot just be a story telling without moral or emphatic end, then the Elephant Keeper will probably leave you lacking in some way. If you are happy with prose on its own merit then I shall think you will find this easy and fast read by Christopher Nicholson, a good companion for an afternoon.
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LibraryThing member lmitten
A quiet period piece about a boy and his elephant in 18th-century rural England. Tom is the elephant keeper, son of a horse keeper on an estate. When the lord of the manor acquires two young elephants from a ship returning from the Indies, Tom becomes their keeper. He quickly bonds with the brother
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and sister pachyderms, and becomes more attached to them, particularly the female, named Jenny, than to his family and friends. The male elephant is sold to another estate once he reaches sexual maturity and becomes, shall we say, belligerent. This is heartbreaking for both Tom and Jenny, and attempts to track down Jenny's brother, Timothy, do not go well. At first a wondrous story exploring this unusual occurence, the story becomes rather sad as Jenny is sold to a traveling animal sideshow, with Tom always at her side. The story ends rather sadly, but provides a glimpse into lower-class and rural life during this time of the British Empire. However, the time period and historical events merely hover in the background, as the story is really about a boy and his elephant. Odd, quirky, endearing. Show Less
LibraryThing member Jennisis
I won an ARC of this book and really liked it. I loved the first half of the book in which Tom Page tells the story of how he became the elephant keeper. The second half of the story, in which Tom and Jenny become part of a zoo or menagerie is a much darker story that is only hinted at in the
I am glad that I read it, and will definitely look for more works from this author, but I also feel the author has some room to improve in future works.
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beginning. One isn't sure if it is the elephant keeper who has gone mad, or if he is just being lonely and fanciful. I was very engaged in the characters and in the plot, but I felt that there were two different novellas combined into one book, and the author had not really resolved the nature of the story being told. This is a tragic love story similar in flavor to "The Time Traveler's Wife" - I had the same emotional response to the story.I am glad that I read it, and will definitely look for more works from this author, but I also feel the author has some room to improve in future works.
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LibraryThing member acook
Oh, my. What a wonderful story, beautifully told. You might imagine that a story about a man in charge of an elephant in England in the late 1700’s can be all merry and bright, and it isn’t. You will cry. But it isn’t all heartache, either. You know from the very beginning that there is just
I write my review, then I read some of the others. I think some of the comments below about the second half of the novel have some merit, but I still loved the book. I had trouble putting it down. I gage a book by how anxious I am to get back to it, and I was really anxious to get back to this one. Due to time constraints, took me a couple days.
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one elephant, so you know you going to have to find out what happens to the other one. The author handles the relationship between the elephant and the keeper (and some of the other characters) in such a tender way that makes you rejoice that such people exist. And if you love animals, and reading about them as I do, then you will identify with a lot of the emotions written about here. And the ending is about as good as it could be, considering. This book stayed with me for a long time afterward. I highly recommend it, even though parts were hard to read. I loved it.I write my review, then I read some of the others. I think some of the comments below about the second half of the novel have some merit, but I still loved the book. I had trouble putting it down. I gage a book by how anxious I am to get back to it, and I was really anxious to get back to this one. Due to time constraints, took me a couple days.
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LibraryThing member MooseMom
I love "nice" stories like this. A well told story written with grace.
LibraryThing member Cygnus555
I rate books a two or below when I can't finish them. This one wasn't a bad book... but I just couldn't find myself caring or getting engaged with the characters at all. I learned in "The Little Guide to your Well Read Life" that I should ask myself 'If I die tomorrow, do I want this to be the last
It's not a bad book... I just didn't care. Perhaps I will try it again someday? Perhaps not.
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book I ever read?'. I did that with this book and said "no".It's not a bad book... I just didn't care. Perhaps I will try it again someday? Perhaps not.
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LibraryThing member jd234512
I am having a hard time landing on a true overall opinion on the book, because it was definitely very readable and flowed very well(and was written well). On the other hand, some of the dialogue between Tom and Jenny was fairly contrived and not extremely believable. While it was certainly very
I would have liked there to be more characters that interacted with Tom along the way that watched this progression in his obsession and follow that rather than solely the two of them. The other characters were just fillers to create different scenarios for them to be in. I would have loved if the trip back to Harrington Hall was extended and more came out of it. Instead, it seemed like an unnecessary trip to make the big longer.
All in all, I probably would be hesitant to specifically recommend this book, but if someone were to ask about it, I would say it's worth reading. Like I said, it was still an enjoyable read over all, but it went a different direction than I would have liked.
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clear Tom seemed to be unhealthily attached to Jenny, the progression to talking between the two was extremely abrupt and did not seem to happen "naturally." I would have liked there to be more characters that interacted with Tom along the way that watched this progression in his obsession and follow that rather than solely the two of them. The other characters were just fillers to create different scenarios for them to be in. I would have loved if the trip back to Harrington Hall was extended and more came out of it. Instead, it seemed like an unnecessary trip to make the big longer.
All in all, I probably would be hesitant to specifically recommend this book, but if someone were to ask about it, I would say it's worth reading. Like I said, it was still an enjoyable read over all, but it went a different direction than I would have liked.
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LibraryThing member RaucousRain
I found this book to move slowly, but I do not mean to say that it is plodding. Rather, each time I returned to the story, I felt I was exposed to 18th century life in a degree I had not experienced before. I welcomed the slow pace, as it allowed me to absorb more of the culture, country, and
My reading behavior is not always the same; this behavior changes when I read different things. In the case of The Elephant Keeper, each time I picked up the book I found myself mentally slipping silently and invisibly into the scenes. Although personally I had no similar experiences in my own life to draw from, I found I became the proverbial fly on the wall. For example, I experienced emotional tightness and nervousness when Tom went through his trials-n-tribulations traveling back to his original home, only to find people and circumstances there little resembled what he had hoped to find. Also, as Tom’s emotional needs were tied to Jenny, I understood his physical urges to frequent the whore houses, where those physical needs could be satisfied by others. By the way, I thought Jenny was a jewel ... so clear-headed with such a wonderful disposition. (still not sure whether second-half Jenny is Jenny, or she is the alter-ego of Tom ... but in some ways it does not matter)
As I was reading this book, I thought I enjoyed the first half far more than the second half. However, after some reflection, I now realize that it is the second half that has remained more deeply in my thoughts. I liked this book. Although originally I had not been prepared for it, in retrospect I liked the shift that took place from the first half to the second. And, I really liked the open-ended ending.
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civilization in which the story takes place.My reading behavior is not always the same; this behavior changes when I read different things. In the case of The Elephant Keeper, each time I picked up the book I found myself mentally slipping silently and invisibly into the scenes. Although personally I had no similar experiences in my own life to draw from, I found I became the proverbial fly on the wall. For example, I experienced emotional tightness and nervousness when Tom went through his trials-n-tribulations traveling back to his original home, only to find people and circumstances there little resembled what he had hoped to find. Also, as Tom’s emotional needs were tied to Jenny, I understood his physical urges to frequent the whore houses, where those physical needs could be satisfied by others. By the way, I thought Jenny was a jewel ... so clear-headed with such a wonderful disposition. (still not sure whether second-half Jenny is Jenny, or she is the alter-ego of Tom ... but in some ways it does not matter)
As I was reading this book, I thought I enjoyed the first half far more than the second half. However, after some reflection, I now realize that it is the second half that has remained more deeply in my thoughts. I liked this book. Although originally I had not been prepared for it, in retrospect I liked the shift that took place from the first half to the second. And, I really liked the open-ended ending.
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LibraryThing member kvanuska
Since traumatized at an early age by the violent death of Bambi’s mother, I’ve not been one for animal stories. When forced to read Old Yeller in Junior High School, I curled myself up in a ball, chewed my fingernails, and wept. When asked to review The Elephant Keeper by Christopher Nicholson,
The Elephant Keeper is a warm, gentle tale set in 18th century England that follows the life of Tom from boyhood into middle age while devoting his life to the care of Elephants. Nicholson does a spectacular job of evoking 18th century England, both London and the countryside, through a vivid array of details and, most of all, through the lovely voice of its narrative. How can you be anything but safe in a novel that opens thusly: “It was six days ago that Lord Bidborough, accompanied by another gentlemen, came to the Elephant House and, after making the usual inquiries about my charge, who was, at the moment, quietly eating hay, asked whether it was true that, as he had heard, I was able to read.” Even in middle age and visiting prostitutes in London, there is an innocence about Tom that is endearing. The elephants, like the Houyhnhnms in Gulliver’s Travels are endowed with all this novel’s wisdom, and though I am not usually one to have patience for attributing animals with great powers of intellect, I found myself giving way to Nicholson’s artistic device and being thoroughly entertained. Each night as I picked up this novel, I would sigh in preparation for my pleasant interlude. Though this book has its share of both naughty and nice bits, taken as a whole, it definitely lands in the nice column. Enjoy!
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my old fear of being forced to watch the demise of innocent animals reared its mighty head. Thankfully, I faced my fear. The Elephant Keeper is a warm, gentle tale set in 18th century England that follows the life of Tom from boyhood into middle age while devoting his life to the care of Elephants. Nicholson does a spectacular job of evoking 18th century England, both London and the countryside, through a vivid array of details and, most of all, through the lovely voice of its narrative. How can you be anything but safe in a novel that opens thusly: “It was six days ago that Lord Bidborough, accompanied by another gentlemen, came to the Elephant House and, after making the usual inquiries about my charge, who was, at the moment, quietly eating hay, asked whether it was true that, as he had heard, I was able to read.” Even in middle age and visiting prostitutes in London, there is an innocence about Tom that is endearing. The elephants, like the Houyhnhnms in Gulliver’s Travels are endowed with all this novel’s wisdom, and though I am not usually one to have patience for attributing animals with great powers of intellect, I found myself giving way to Nicholson’s artistic device and being thoroughly entertained. Each night as I picked up this novel, I would sigh in preparation for my pleasant interlude. Though this book has its share of both naughty and nice bits, taken as a whole, it definitely lands in the nice column. Enjoy!
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LibraryThing member Lila_Gustavus
I am usually not a big fan of books with animals as main characters. I decided to break away from this pattern and read The Elephant Keeper, especially that the description mentioned it to be 'a magical adventure'. The novel is set in 18th century England and the story is told by Tom Page, a keeper
Sounds interesting, doesn't it? Well, it was okay in the beginning even though the style of writing (Tom's weird grammar with author's attempt to use the language as it may have been used in the times the story was set) took some getting used to. It also took me a while to get interested in the story of raising two elephants, the way Tom recounts his life as elephant keeper seemed emotionally distant to me and therefore I couldn't quite believe that he was all that devoted to Timothy and Jenny. But still, there was something in the story (probably the novelty of reading about elephants) that kept me going. Unfortunately, when I got about half-way through, the relationship between Tom Page and his female elephant, Jenny became just plain weird to me. I don't want to spoil anything for those of you who might want to read it but when a man starts talking to an animal and receives answers and the conversations take on an intimate character, and when that same man starts having sexually suggestive dreams featuring the animal I have to start questioning the sanity of the whole novel. Which by the way, was not pitched as a fantasy but historical fiction. I did finish The Elephant Keeper because when I am already half done with a book I go on until the end, but it left me feeling slightly put off.
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of two elephants he named Timothy and Jenny. By pure accident, Tom found himself to be their main caregiver since the day they arrived in England. The elephants were still pretty much babies and on the verge of dying. However, under the careful eye of Tom and his undivided attention, Timothy and Jenny survived. And Tom's life took an unexpected turn as he falls in love with the two animals and slowly but surely removes himself from the world of people.Sounds interesting, doesn't it? Well, it was okay in the beginning even though the style of writing (Tom's weird grammar with author's attempt to use the language as it may have been used in the times the story was set) took some getting used to. It also took me a while to get interested in the story of raising two elephants, the way Tom recounts his life as elephant keeper seemed emotionally distant to me and therefore I couldn't quite believe that he was all that devoted to Timothy and Jenny. But still, there was something in the story (probably the novelty of reading about elephants) that kept me going. Unfortunately, when I got about half-way through, the relationship between Tom Page and his female elephant, Jenny became just plain weird to me. I don't want to spoil anything for those of you who might want to read it but when a man starts talking to an animal and receives answers and the conversations take on an intimate character, and when that same man starts having sexually suggestive dreams featuring the animal I have to start questioning the sanity of the whole novel. Which by the way, was not pitched as a fantasy but historical fiction. I did finish The Elephant Keeper because when I am already half done with a book I go on until the end, but it left me feeling slightly put off.
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LibraryThing member frisbeesage
The Elephant Keeper is the story of a young horse trainer who suddenly finds himself in charge of caring for two young elephants. Its a coming of age story for both the trainer and the elephants and the commonalities and contrasts make for an interesting twist. As the story progress the trainer
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develops a deep relationship with the female elephant and ultimately is able to communicate with her. I thought this part of the story was well written and I was able to suspend belief and enjoy their intimate connection. The book follows the pair through good fortune and bad as they are sold to various owners. Unfortunately, the book ends with the idea that there are many possibilities - maybe the end is just a dream, maybe any number of dreams can be true. All this mean is there isn't really any ending and you are left feeling the author couldn't really decide where to take the story. With a more satisfying conclusion this would have been a great book. Still, enough of the writing was engaging and the plot was interesting enough that I will look forward to reading Christopher Nicholson's next book. Show Less
LibraryThing member calliebell
A rich, satisfyingly detailed look at learning to live with, and love, a very unusual animal. The story provides a look at historical England life as well as how the Keeper learned how to care for his charge. The fact that the Keeper was just a mere boy when he first learned the love the elephants
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was great also. I loved the book. Show Less
LibraryThing member JudyKenn
I almost read this book at one sitting. I kept trying to put it down and would find myself stretching it out to one more chapter. It is a love story between a very intelligent animal, Jenny, and her keeper. It is a story about devotion, endurance, patience and abiding friendship Because I love
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historical novels (the setting is in England in the mid 1700s), and animal stories, this was a perfect blend for me. Great read. Show Less
LibraryThing member suballa
This is the endearing story of the bond between an elephant and the young boy employed as her keeper. Tom is only 12 years old when his wealthy employer buys two young elephants that have been captured in the Indies and brought back to England. The female elephant, which Tom names Jenny, becomes
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Tom's closest friend and the two remain inseparable through the harshest of times. Show Less
LibraryThing member bookchickdi
Fictional books about animals are in vogue, with Sara Gruen's Water for Elephants, Garth Stein's The Art of Racing in the Rain, and Yann Martel's Life of Pi, each experiencing an extended stay on the bestseller list.
Add Christopher Nicholson's The Elephant Keeper to that list. The book cast a spell
Tom's father was head groom to John Harrington, a wealthy sugar merchant. Tom loved horses and followed in his father's footsteps. One day, a ship from Africa unloaded on the docks and and two elephants were among the cargo.
No one had ever seen such incredible creatures, and they were disoriented and ill from their long sea journey. Harrington was a shrewd businessman, and after asking Tom if he though the elephants would live, purchased them from the ship's captain.
Tom takes to the elephants immediately and is eager to work with them. At first they were angry and wary of Tom, making several successful attempts to pick the locks of their crates to escape, but eventually they began to trust him.
He names them Timothy and Jenny, although is careful to not share this information with anyone else less they think he is mad. I also think by not sharing their names with anyone else, he keeps them from becoming attached to anyone else; they belong only to Tom.
Tom's relationship with the elephants sadly precludes normal relationships with humans, particularly women. He sleeps in the barn near the elephants, spends all his time with them, and when a lovely young lady named Lizzie wants to become closer to Tom, he spurns her. His responsibility is to the beautiful creatures whom he believes need him.
As the story progresses, the reader is privy to dialogue between Tom and Jenny. Is Jenny really speaking to Tom, or is this an example of Tom sliding into some sort of madness?
Not all goes well with Tom and the elephants, and the twists and turns of this tragic tale are masterfully told by Nicholson. The thought-provoking end to this magical story will be turned over in the mind of the reader for a long time, and I suspect people will either love the ending or hate it. I loved it.
Add Christopher Nicholson's The Elephant Keeper to that list. The book cast a spell
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upon me, and I read it in two sittings, unable to put it down. Set in the late 1700s, the novel tells the tale of young Tom Page, who is tasked by his employer to write a book about the elephant he has been caring for many years.Tom's father was head groom to John Harrington, a wealthy sugar merchant. Tom loved horses and followed in his father's footsteps. One day, a ship from Africa unloaded on the docks and and two elephants were among the cargo.
No one had ever seen such incredible creatures, and they were disoriented and ill from their long sea journey. Harrington was a shrewd businessman, and after asking Tom if he though the elephants would live, purchased them from the ship's captain.
Tom takes to the elephants immediately and is eager to work with them. At first they were angry and wary of Tom, making several successful attempts to pick the locks of their crates to escape, but eventually they began to trust him.
He names them Timothy and Jenny, although is careful to not share this information with anyone else less they think he is mad. I also think by not sharing their names with anyone else, he keeps them from becoming attached to anyone else; they belong only to Tom.
Tom's relationship with the elephants sadly precludes normal relationships with humans, particularly women. He sleeps in the barn near the elephants, spends all his time with them, and when a lovely young lady named Lizzie wants to become closer to Tom, he spurns her. His responsibility is to the beautiful creatures whom he believes need him.
As the story progresses, the reader is privy to dialogue between Tom and Jenny. Is Jenny really speaking to Tom, or is this an example of Tom sliding into some sort of madness?
Not all goes well with Tom and the elephants, and the twists and turns of this tragic tale are masterfully told by Nicholson. The thought-provoking end to this magical story will be turned over in the mind of the reader for a long time, and I suspect people will either love the ending or hate it. I loved it.
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LibraryThing member chellinsky
The idea of a boy raising elephants and care-taking for them in eighteenth century England seemed like a good plot for a book. However, I never identified with the boy that raised the elephants or felt that I really cared one way or another about how the story would unfold in The Elephant Keeper.
However, the book was not uninteresting. Thanks to the historical details of England and London life during this time, I finished the book and felt I gained some value from the narrative. I also enjoyed the various other characters the protagonist found during his life and wished the author would have develop them more.
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Perhaps that was the point since the main character largely lived without close human companionship and seemed to find it difficult to relate to others.However, the book was not uninteresting. Thanks to the historical details of England and London life during this time, I finished the book and felt I gained some value from the narrative. I also enjoyed the various other characters the protagonist found during his life and wished the author would have develop them more.
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Awards
Costa Book Awards (Shortlist — Novel — 2009)
Call number
FIC J Nic