A TRAINING SCHOOL FOR ELEPHANTS

From the acclaimed author of The Lost Pianos of Siberia comes a new journey following four 19th century elephants marched from the East African coast towards Congo to tell a heartbreaking story of folly and colonial greed History and travelogue combine wonderfully in this tale of colonial plunder and hubris Sophy Roberts luminous new book is a journey through Africa from Zanzibar to Lake Tanganyika and back retracing the steps of a long forgotten expedition GUARDIAN This is a marvellous book an important footnote to history of Sophy Roberts intrepid travel with a real purpose shining a light on colonialism Belgian and British and their peculiar obsessions Paul Theroux author of The Great Railway Bazaar Masterfully weaving adventure intrigue and the darker truths of colonial ambition into a story as gripping as it is eye opening Levison Wood author of Walking the Nile Deeply researched Brings to life a bizarre and long forgotten story of Africa with empathy intriguing encounters and memorable characters not least the elephants themselves Luke Pepera author of Motherland A Journey through 500 000 Years of African Culture and Identity Sophy Roberts brings history to life tackling difficult sensitive subjects with careful exquisite