Rhinoceros
Rhinoceros by Kelly Enright, published by Reaktion Books on June 24, 2008, is a comprehensive exploration of the rhinoceros, a creature often misunderstood due to its imposing appearance. This 224-page book delves into the complex relationship between humans and rhinos, tracing historical misconceptions from early sightings that confused the animal with mythical creatures to its display as a natural wonder in Europe during the eighteenth century. Enright examines the impact of hunting practices, particularly the demand for rhino horns in traditional medicine and as trophies, which have contributed to the species’ endangered status.
In this richly illustrated study, readers will find a thoughtful analysis of the rhinoceros’s portrayal in various cultural contexts, including film, literature, and art. Enright aims to discern whether the fearsome reputation of the rhino is grounded in reality or shaped by myth. This edition serves as a valuable resource for those interested in nature, animals, and the intersection of art and wildlife, providing insights into the historical and contemporary significance of this remarkable species.
Official synopsis Publisher
The rhinoceros’s horn and massive leathery frame belie its docile and solitary nature, causing the animal to be consistently perceived by humans as a monster to be feared. Kelly Enright now deftly sifts fact from fiction in Rhinoceros.
Enright chronicles the vexed interactions between humans and rhinos, from early sightings that mistook the rhinoceros for the mythical unicorn to the eighteenth-century display of the rhinoceros in Europe as a wonder of nature and its introduction to the American public in 1830. The rhinoceros has long been a prized hunting object as well, whether for its horn as a valuable ingredient in Asian medicine or as a coveted trophy by nineteenth-century big-game hunters such as Theodore Roosevelt, and the book explains how such practices have led to the rhino’s status as an endangered species. Enright also considers portrayals of the animal in film, literature, and art, all in the service of discovering whether the reputed savagery of the rhino is a reality or a legacy of its mythic past.
A wide-ranging, highly illustrated study, Rhinoceros will be essential for scholars and animal lovers alike.
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