A Training School for Elephants
A Training School for Elephants by Sophy Roberts, published by Transworld Publishers Limited in February 2025, is a detailed exploration of a historical expedition initiated by King Leopold II of Belgium in 1879. This book recounts the ambitious plan to exploit Africa’s resources through the training of elephants, focusing on the journey of four tamed Asian elephants shipped from India to the East African coast and their subsequent march into the Congo.
Readers will find a rich narrative that intertwines the past and present, as Roberts follows the elephants’ path through various countries, including Belgium, Iraq, India, Tanzania, and Congo. The book presents a diverse cast of characters, from ivory dealers to Catholic nuns, while offering vivid descriptions of the landscapes encountered. Through meticulous research, Roberts examines the complex and often troubling relationship between humans and animals, shedding light on themes of colonialism, greed, and the consequences of historical actions. This edition spans 432 pages and is written in English.
Official synopsis Publisher
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. She 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.
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