A Training School for Elephants

Roberts, Sophy

ISBN 10: 0857528386 / ISBN 13: 9780857528384

Published by Doubleday, London, 2025

About this Item

Signed without inscription on the title page by the author. An unread copy. The original, unclipped dust jacket is protected by a clear, removable cover. Weysprings Books is a Member of: the IOBA and PBFA, and subscribes to the Associations' codes of Ethics.

Seller Inventory # 008765

Bibliographic Details

• Title: A Training School for Elephants
• Publisher: Doubleday, London
• Publication Date: 2025
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0857528386
• ISBN 13: 9780857528384
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Printing: 1st Printing
• Condition: Fine
• Dust Jacket Condition: Fine
• Signed: Signed by Author(s)
• Seller catalogs:
  • Travel
  • First Editions

About this title

Synopsis

Out of a sidelined, colonial-era expedition in Africa comes a new history 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.