INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER SHORTLISTED FOR THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE FOR WRITING ON
CONSERVATION From the acclaimed author of The Lost Pianos of Siberia comes a new journey
following four 19 th century elephants marched from the East African coast towards Congo to
tell a heartbreaking story of folly and colonial greed. 'BEST SUMMER BOOKS OF 2025: An
illuminating tale of imperial ambition and ineptitude.' FINANCIAL TIMES 'A beautiful
intelligent and heartfelt book a brilliantly researched account of an imperial fever dream
alongside a no less feverish contemporary journey' - THE SUNDAY TIMES '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 prose. Unputdownable.' - Mary Harper
author of Getting Somalia Wrong? 'A brave and searching book rich in history and fierce in
spirit. The best sort of travel writing: handsome prose teeming with humanity and an
unwavering sense of wonder.' - Justin Marozzi author of Baghdad City of Peace City of Blood
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. Roberts digs deep into historic records to reckon with our broken relationship with
animals revealing an extraordinary - and enduring - story of colonial greed ineptitude
hypocrisy and folly. 'A cautionary tale from the early days of the Scramble for Africa but
poignant and scholarly too. Roberts writes beautifully.' - Thomas Pakenham author of The
Scramble for Africa ' A rich engrossing tapestry of greed and disregard for life ... Few
write as compellingly as Roberts this is her as only she can write.' - Amal Chatterjee author
of Across the Lakes
