Queen of the Elephants. This item is unavailable.Queen of the Elephants

Mark Shand trekked 300 miles across East Benghal and Assam on the back of an elephant with Parbati Barua, the foremost and only female elephant trainer in all India. This book describes the experiences shared during this remarkable journey - joining a government 'elephant squad' together with local villagers to chase a band of wild elephants off a tea estate, and making a stop at Parbati's ancestral home, now a virtual shrine to her father's lifelong work with elephants. The importance of this ancient knowledge becomes clear: if not preserved, the Asian elephant stands an even greater chance of disappearing altogether.

This true-life travelogue of a modern journey across India on elephant glistens with energy and adventure. The story blends humor, excitement and deep empathy for the plight of the Indian elephant. Paul Shelley's performance shows exquisite characterization. Listeners quickly become involved with the characters, their foibles and their distinct verbal mannerisms. Even the unique personality of each elephant is clearly drawn. Voices, both male and female, and accents--Indian, British and American--are well done. The reader is never jarred out of the story despite the extended character range. Instead, Shelley's talents draw the listener more deeply into the tale, enriching each event and character as it unfolds. J.S.G. Winner of AUDIOFILE's Earphones Award. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine