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The Elephant’s Journey

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The Elephant’s Journey

Written by: Margaret Jull Costa - translator, José Saramago
Narrated by: Christine Williams
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About this listen

A delightful, witty tale of friendship and adventure from prize-winning novelist Jose Saramago.

In 1551, King Joo III of Portugal gave Archduke Maximilian an unusual wedding present: an elephant named Solomon. In Jose Saramago's remarkable and imaginative retelling, Solomon and his keeper, Subhro, begin in dismal conditions, forgotten in a corner of the palace grounds.

When it occurs to the king and queen that an elephant would be an appropriate wedding gift, everyone rushes to get them ready: Subhro is given two new suits of clothes and Solomon a long overdue scrub. Accompanied by the Archduke, his new wife, and the royal guard, these unlikely heroes traverse a continent riven by the Reformation and civil wars, witnessed along the way by scholars, historians, and wide-eyed ordinary people as they make their way through the storied cities of northern Italy; they brave the Alps and the terrifying Isarco and Brenner Passes; across the Mediterranean Sea and up the Inn River; and at last, toward their grand entry into the imperial city.

©2008 Jose Saramago (P)2011 Audible, Inc. Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Royalty King Wedding Witty City Elephant Alps
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What the critics say

"It would be hard to more highly recommend a novel to be downed in a single draft…Simply, this books flows, and keeps on flowing." ( The New York Times)
"His most optimistic, playful, humorous and magical book, a grace note written near the end of his life...The Elephant's Journey is a tale rich in irony and empathy, regularly interrupted by witty reflections on human nature and arch commentary on the powerful who insult human dignity." ( Los Angeles Times)
"A picaresque romp that gleefully skewers the benighted souls clinging to outmoded worldviews while breathtaking new realities unfold right in front of them." ( Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)

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Profile Image for Michael Beavington

Historically meh

Sure an elephant did some travelling, but was there any reason to write such a remedial book about it. Elementary school quality. Inaccurate locations such as Genoa in Italy in 1600’s. If it wasn’t for the book club I would have given up by the first 30 minutes. The written book is even worse; run on sentences and no paragraphs??? Did they think they would make a mediocre story better by making it harder to read. I think the author must have spent a full two hours of research on this book.

What a waste of five hours

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