A Training School for Elephants

by Sophy Roberts

'A modern-day Freya Stark' - Tatler
'Roberts' writing is beguiling' - The i
'Roberts is a wonderfully lyrical writer' - Observer

From the acclaimed author of The Lost Pianos of Siberia, comes a new journey tracing a colonial-era African expedition.

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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Praise for The Lost Pianos of Siberia

· An extraordinary encounter with a wildly fascinating and astonishingly ill-known region... This is a wonderful book. - Sunday Times

· The ultimate quest for the oddest objects - pianos - in the most unlikely place - Siberia. But Roberts makes it much more than that, an elegant and nuanced journey through literature, through history, through music, murder and incarceration and revolution, through snow and ice and remoteness, to discover the human face of Siberia. I loved this book. - Paul Theroux

· An impressive exploration of Siberia's terrifying past. - Guardian

· An exuberant, eccentric journey through Russian vastness, European history and Russian culture, The Lost Pianos of Siberia is a quixotic quest, a picaresque travel adventure and a strange forgotten story, all wrapped into one fascinating book. - Simon Sebag-Montefiore

· What shines through in this book is Roberts' genuine, humane affection for and fascination with the people she meets in Siberia. - Literary Review

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Africa, Travel, Book Club

432 pages, Hardcover

Published February 20, 2025

Reviews

[Tessimo Mahuta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sophy Roberts has once again delivered a work of outstanding depth, intertextuality and brilliant observation.

Leopold’s colonial savagery in the Congo c. late 19th and early 20th Century has been well documented, but Roberts brings a fresh, considered and focussed perspective on this contentious part of history. She follows the journey of four Indian elephants from shipped to Stone Town, on the coast of East Africa, to Lake Tanganyika in the heart of the Congo. With loads sometimes seven times heavier than they should be carrying on grounds far more difficult than what they were used to, through disease and death and endless days of trekking with little rest these elephants marched onwards. Roberts expertly maps this doomed endeavour on to her own journey in the present day. She explores what it means to be an outsider looking in, the lasting impact of colonialism, and the fractured responses of individual’s she meets to the elephants of her focus.

It's not often that a book achieves such coherent intertextuality, at once informative and reflective, forcing the reader to confront the limits of our own understanding and memory. As she weaves together history, politics, travel writing, journalism and international relations I was struck by the visceral nature of the book. For as much as you can read, reading is primarily a cognitive experience. Roberts manages to weave throughout the book a myriad of smells, tastes, sounds, textures, emotions, and sights that convey as much as a book possibly can without actually being there.

Never have I read a book where the photography is equally as powerful as the writing, but here it is the case. It manages to convey a real sense of place and time whilst reminding the reader of the very real human lives that we are reading about.

An outstanding book with the level of self-reflection, historical depth and breadth, and nuance that we are always in need of. Do yourself a favour and give it a read.

[Sookie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sophy Roberts provides a compelling narrative of human and animal stories in a historical context set during colonization under the rule of Belgians, French and the British. She follows the path - the plan really, that was taken by a man more than century and half ago, where four tamed elephants were brought in from India to Africa, for labor.

As she travels across the continent with a team, she encounters churches, old towns that are barely functional now and heritage that exists with stories about elephants and people who were involved in it. Ivory trade, manual labor for moving timber and poaching that still takes place in dense jungles, are explored with a historical context.

This is a great narrative study of part of colonialism that don't always make it to forefront of stories from that era - the one that involves animals and a man's greed to raze an entire continent for a personal gain.

Thank you to Netgalley and Grove Atlantic for providing me with a free copy of this e-book in exchange for an honest review.

[Matthew Yeldon · Rating 4 out of 5]

“…when the white man turns tyrant it is his own freedom that he destroys.”

Those words still hold so much truth today. This is a tremendous book, filled with history, beauty, spirituality, and violence. And Roberts writes the events so well, I forgot I wasn’t reading a novel. More than anything I learned a great deal about Belgium’s colonialism in the late 19th century, of its attempted conquest of Africa through the misguided use of Asian elephants. The story of the trek through Tanzania is enthralling, but it’s the story of the elephants that’ll tug at your heart and soul.

[Book Club of One · Rating 2 out of 5]

Blending a personal travelogue with the history of a colonial Africa expedition, A Training School for Elephants unfortunately perpetuates the same problems it seeks to explore. In 1879 King Leopold of Belgium, launched an expedition of Indian elephants and handlers to catch and train African elephants as yet another way to extract wealth and resources from the Belgian Congo.

As detailed more deeply and thoroughly in Adam Hochschild's King Leopold's Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror and Heroism in Colonial Africa, the 19th century European Empire's fought globally for control of territory and markets, sometimes under the claim of civilizing the non-Europeans. Leopold would become notorious for his brutal and singular focus on extracting rubber and ivory from the Congo, but Roberts tale comes in the early days of this control. It is centered on two figures: Henry Morton Stanley, well known for his 'finding' of the pioneer Christian Missionary and physician, David Livingstone, and the forgotten Frederick Falkner Carter an Irishman with little knowledge of elephants or the Africa he was supposed to best.

Roberts alternates the chapters with the fruits of her archival research while also detailing her journey to retrace the steps of the expedition. It is this latter point that falters. What could be a chance to question the erasures of history instead becomes yet another European expedition through Africa, detailing the personal experience and disappointment when expectations are not met. (Though at a few points Roberts does directly address the shortcomings of her perspective and does name all of the Indian Elephant handlers, known as Mahouts, but not until the afterward).

A thoroughly researched missed opportunity.

For readers of colonial follies, 19th century imperialism, or problematic travelogues.

I received a free digital version of this book via NetGalley thanks to the publisher.

[Amy Wheeler · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think I wanted it to be more elephants, less people... I just couldn't quite get into it..

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

An unusual adventure story but oh so interesting.

Colonialism, environmental degradation, corporate greed, big game hunting for tourists and cruelty to animals all come under the spotlight. What African countries have endured and continue to be subjected to is nothing less than criminal but because progress is the name of the game, the continent and its people continue to be plundered.

The story definitely puts elephants on a pedestal (picture that!) as indicated by this one description of them,

Lions have their own myth but elephants up close, it's something spiritual. . p.215

Recommended.

[Barbara Mutch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sophy Roberts is an extraordinary researcher of obscure historical journeys! I loved her Lost Pianos of Siberia (who knew?) and this novel covers the hazardous journey of 4 elephants transported from India in the late 1800s, and marched into central Africa to potentially be the "starters" for an African elephant training scheme to prepare these animals to transport goods and people from the East African coast to its centre around Lake Tanganyika. The author follows the original route and her story mirrors that of those intrepid travellers, updated to reflect present-day conditions. The only word to describe both journeys is... extraordinary.

[Sarah Jackson-Buckley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel really inspired by this book to teach more about colonialism in Africa! The story of four elephants revealed so much about the nature of European conquest across the globe. Loved the way the author also retraced the path the elephants travelled. It only didn't get five stars because I found the last few chapters a bit too superficial in detail to get really intrigued by. 4.25⭐

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic Atlantic Monthly Press for an advance copy of this book that is both travel memoir and a tracing of a path through Africa of a group of animals and men with plans to tame a "savage wilderness" during the late nineteenth century.

In high school we learned a bit of history. Every year we seemed to start at the same time, and end about World War II. We learned a lot of facts, but not much more. Even those facts were questionable, more on the wooden teeth of Washington that on his slave holdings. Of Africa we learned very little, only as it tied into slave trade in America. If we did, again it was just facts to pass a test, nothing of importance. Even with this I was always drawn to history, and once I started reading books, I found that history is more than facts. History is geography, philosophy, mindsets, religion, and even biases, from writer, from reader and from the times. History also is nature. How nature is effected by history, how nature recovers from history, and how nature gets dragged into history. Some stories are funny, camels in the American southwest. Emu wars in Australia. Some are dark, dogs, cats and horses in war. Some are sad, like this book about Africa, hubris, colonialism, men getting in way over their heads, and elephants. A Training School for Elephants:Retracing a Curious Episode in the European Grab for Africa by Sophy Roberts is a look at the attempt to use elephants as wondrous tools of colonialism, as well as a memoir of Roberts trying to come to grips with the story.

In the year of 1879,King Leopold of Belgium had a problem. The King had claimed a vast expanse of the continent of Africa for his own use, but had not thought about the problems that were very present. The disease, the lack of roads and infrastructure, and the lack of experienced people to help him. The idea was raised of using elephants as heavy equipment. Using elephants trained in India, these elephants could be transported to Africa and walk to what would become a school, using captured African elephants as students to move obstructions, carry great weights and more. An Irishman with little experience with animals, outside of shooting them, was chosen by the name of Frederick Carter. Four elephants were chosen, and sent by boat to Africa, where they first had to swim to shore, carry more weight than the were used to and sent on their way. As we learn this history, Sophy Roberts herself follows the modern trails with companions, following the route stopping in towns for research and seeing what has changed in almost 150 years. Roberts stops in churches, visits old towns, finds stories of the elephants, and why life is like for many in modern Africa.

A book that was far more than I expected. Roberts fills the stories with not just facts, but human stories. Elephant stories also. Roberts goes into the life these elephants had in India, life that was far different than they were exposed to. Roberts writes about these amazing creatures, their memories, their feelings, the way they grieve, and their treatment. Roberts also meets an interesting cast who share their stories, which gives a real strong feeling to the writing. There was quite a lot I liked. The chapters intermingle with Roberts travels and the travels in the past. However one never gets lost as Roberts is a really gifted writer. There is a lot of great writing here, and a lot of sadness. However this was a book I really enjoyed.

Nature readers will quite enjoy this, as well as people who like history, especially odd history. This is the second book I have read by Roberts, and feel I have some catching up to do. A very interesting tale, and a book that reminds me that the world is filled with a lot of weird stories. Thankfully we have writers like Sophy Roberts to share them with us.

[Carolyn Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for the ARC, which contains an immersive history of colonialism with all its greed, violence, and folly. Written by Sophy Roberts, her amount of in-depth research was impressive. She lists her vast reference material and inserts herself into the story, adding to the reader's involvement. She follows along an 1879 trail to give a feeling of what the country was like then and how it has changed. Along her way, she stops to study records, interview people about what they knew about her story and the whereabouts of elephants., and describe their life in modern Africa.

Her book combines descriptive travel writing, history, politics, and personal experience. When she ponders the elephants' fate, the strength of their memory, and their emotions, she is saddened by humans' treatment of them. She wonders how human attitudes can be changed to make the world safer for all animals.

Historical records show the intrusion of stronger nations into developing regions with little regard for the populations. The aim was to seize control of the country's natural resources. I can't help but think that the way of colonialism has not strictly remained in the past. Their reasons for invading were often said to be a way to tame savage wildernesses while extracting minerals, wood pulp, and other resources for their own increasing wealth.

King Leopold of Belgium ruled vast stolen land in the Congo. The idea was to use African elephants as beasts of burden, to clear the paths, to ride through the jungles, and to be put to work extracting the resources for Belgium. The population of the country was not considered. Unlike domesticated Indian elephants, wild African elephants were regarded as untameable. A desperate scheme was envisioned where four tame Indian elephants were to be taken to the Congo. An adventurer, Frederick Carter, was chosen and enlisted to head the scheme. Dozens of wild African elephants were rounded up by men with the difficult task of domesticating them. Carter, unfortunately, knew little about elephants except through wild game hunting.

Four Indian elephants were transported by ship from Mumbai to Stone Town in Zanzibar. They were forced to swim to shore, a task to which they were unaccustomed and began their long trek to Lake Tanganyika, where they were to be used as examples for the African elephants. They were forced to carry about seven times the usual weight in heavy equipment, and their feet were not adapted to rough ground. They lacked sufficient food and water., and were subject to tropical disease. Reading about their treatment was very sad.

The author has added interesting photographs from the time, and many were shocking, depicting vast stores of ivory to be sent back to Europe. Tribal chiefs were made to feel disrespected. The deaths of many humans and elephants ended this scheme.

This was a well-written book that focused on the past and present days. It was heartbreaking to read about elephants that are now regarded as an endangered species due to human interference and cruelty. It was an informative look at Colonel times and present-day central Africa. The Training School for Elephants will be published on April 22.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

On this journey, I was learning that we’re all prone to self-deception, and will convince ourselves it’s the only truth. from A Training School for Elephants by Sophy Roberts

A tale of forgotten history and a travelogue through contemporary Africa, A Training School for Elephants was inspired by King Leopold II of Belgium’s dream of claiming his own slice of Africa.

In 1879, King Leopold was certain that trained Asian elephants would provide the transport needed to cross into Africa and pave the way for building trading centers, roads, and railroads. In fact, he wanted to create a training school for elephants! He hired Frederic Carter to lead four elephants from Zanzibar to Lake Tanganyika where the ‘school’ would be situated. Carter’s journey was fraught with failure, illness, and tribal politics and warfare, ending in death.

Roberts followed Carter’s route, seeking to discover the secrets of the past and to understand how the legacy of colonization manifests in today’s Africa–the racism, the decimation of species, the degradation of the environment.

This journey was something I wanted to take not because it was going to be easy, but precisely because of an unease with my ignorance about the colonial story in Africa…This was always going to be about more than the historical fate of four pachyderms from India. from A Training School for Elephants by Sophy Roberts

Maps abound in the book, locating the setting of each chapter, as well as a good peppering of historic and Robert’s photographs.

The mistreatment of the elephants, in their training and during the journey when they were required to carry over heavy loads, pushed to work too long, and starved of appropriate food, is horrifying, especially considering their great intelligence and social connection.

Roberts discovered beauty in the land and the people. “I wish that more of life could be perceived like this, taking me to a place–however brief, however close to the edge of uncertainty–to make me believe something beautiful might still exist outside our ugly human history.”

Roberts has the ability to discover unusual and forgotten history and mine it for startling insights into the past and our contemporary world.

Thanks to the publisher for a free book.

[Vansa · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 1879, King Leopold of Belgium decided he wanted a colony of his own ( perfectly normal thought for a 19th Century monarch). He decided that he would do that by elephant-only the African elephant is notoriously difficult to train. Indian elephants that were domesticated (or broken by the whip, more like. The same whips were also used on human slaves in Congo’s rubber plantations. And so it goes.) were used to train wild elephants ( beautifully described in Kipling’s utterly delightful ‘Toomai of the elephants’). Leopold’s plan was that Indian elephants would be transported by sea to Zanzibar, and then would make the inland journey to the training school on the banks of Lake Tanganyika, that straddled Tanganyika and Congo. He recruited Frederick Carter for this-an experienced Irish merchant mariner, who was then in Mesopotamia, and was known for his intrepidity in a tight spot. Roberts explores this period just on the cusp of the violent Scramble for Africa, through this historical oddity, showing you the rapacity with which that was approached-the indiscriminate hunting ( in 1879 there were thirty times as many African elephants as there are now), the lack of consideration or even the acknowledgement of humanity of the local populace, the waste, the casual cruelty, the complete lack of understanding. Her conversations with her traveling companions Rem and Wolfe are lovely and insightful, they were among my favourite to read about! Roberts retraces Carter’s journey, and tells you what it was like for him and his elephants through his diaries, letters, other members of the expedition’s letters, and what it’s like now, through lovely meetings with a wide range of people. It’s thoughtful and moving, and deserves to be read multiple times. Even if you’ve read King Leopold’s Ghost and Conrad, this book is still worth reading, and deeply haunting

[Matthew Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Journey Worth Taking

Modern nonfiction has embraced storytelling in ways that transform potentially dry historical accounts into compelling narratives. When I preordered this book from Waterstones, I was searching for something like David Grann’s The Wager: a true story that reads like an adventure. While this isn’t quite The Wager, it scratches a similar itch.

The title is somewhat misleading. The training school for elephants appears only in the opening chapters and epilogue. The heart of the book follows four Indian elephants on their extraordinary journey from Pune to Lake Tanganyika, accompanying Frederick Carter’s ill-fated expedition in service to Belgian King Leopold. Author Sophy Roberts retraces Carter’s route from Zanzibar to Karema over a century later, weaving past and present together.

What makes this book remarkable is Roberts’ treatment of the elephants themselves. She approaches these animals with genuine respect and insight, illuminating their social nature and intelligence in ways that make their horrific journey across Tanzania (undertaken in service of European colonial ambitions) all the more devastating. She rescues them from historical obscurity and gives them the recognition they deserve.

Frederick Carter is no hero, and Roberts doesn’t pretend otherwise. He was part of the machinery of colonial exploitation. Yet his story carries its own tragedy, and his death offers perhaps a measure of redemption. Roberts handles this moral complexity with care.

This book shines light on a forgotten corner of history, preserving stories and names that might otherwise be lost. While it may not reach the heights of other historical nonfiction I’ve read, I’m glad I took this journey. It’s an important and worthwhile read.

[Amelia Storck · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Training School for Elephants is a gripping, meticulously researched work of historical nonfiction that blends adventure, colonial history, and human-animal dynamics into a compelling narrative. Sophy Roberts brings to life the remarkable yet little-known 1879 expedition commissioned by King Leopold II to transport and train elephants in Africa a story of ambition, cruelty, and hubris that resonates far beyond its time.

Roberts excels at illuminating the people, politics, and landscapes of the era. From the charismatic Irish adventurer Frederick Carter to ivory traders, Catholic nuns, and modern historians retracing the journey, each character is vividly portrayed, revealing the complexities and contradictions of colonial enterprise. Her narrative intertwines past and present seamlessly, providing both historical depth and contemporary reflection. The book’s strength lies in its ability to evoke empathy, wonder, and moral reckoning, all while keeping readers engaged with richly detailed storytelling and adventure.

A Training School for Elephants will strongly appeal to readers of historical nonfiction, African history, and stories that illuminate the human and ecological consequences of colonial ambition. Its original perspective, narrative richness, and ethical insight make it an essential read for those drawn to history told through captivating, human-centered storytelling.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a tragic story this is and a savage indictment of the greed, rapaciousness, cruelty and the occasional sheer idiocy of colonialism. With a blend of history, travelogue and personal experience, Sophy Roberts follows in Carter’s footsteps and compellingly tells the story of a largely forgotten venture and brings it vividly back to life. It’s quite a bizarre story. In 1879 the adventurer Frederick Carter was tasked by King Leopold II of Belgium to accompany four trained Indian elephants from Mumbai to Zanzibar and to oversee their planned use as beasts of burden to “extract Africa’s abundant natural resources”. Carter was also tasked with capturing dozens of wild African elephants, which he would then train and domesticate at a new elephant training school on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, to add to the workforce. It doesn’t take a genius to predict how this would pan out. The expedition was doomed from the start, and the fate of the elephants is a sad one indeed. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and learnt a lot from it. Highly recommended.

[Elizabeth Sheeley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Big thanks to Grove Atlantic for the ARC!

Roberts, upon discovering that elephants were trained in captivity in Africa, embarks on a journey to follow the steps of an expedition sent by King Leopold II of Belgium to see if elephants can be trained and used in Africa (mainly for trade reasons).

The sections in this book about Carter and his expedition were interesting (if sad and slightly rage inducing)! However, when I read the summary (and introduction) of this book, I thought it was going to actually be about the training school the author visited, when that was barely mentioned in the book at all. I also am usually not a fan of when an author uses "research anecdotes" and I still can't quite figure out the reason she followed the path of Carter's expedition (I'm sure it was useful for research?)

I did enjoy the author's writing style, and she does acknowledge the colonial past and motives of Carter's expedition, which I was a little nervous about not happening in the book, so I do appreciate that!

[Mihiret · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fascinating book--it begins with the writer's genuine curiosity about a little-known aspect of African colonial history, with King Leopold of Belgium attempting to import Asian elephants and create a training school for elephants as part of his plan to claim the Congo. The book is a mixture of history and travel narrative (as Sophy Roberts follows the paths the elephants took through contemporary Africa, while relating everything she's learned about the history). It's not comfortable reading--horrible things happen to elephants and people both in the historical accounts, and the deforestation and other climate changes, not to mention the devastating depreciation of African elephants, in the contemporary sections is also disturbing--but it is told with respect. If you approach travel with the desire to gain knowledge (and to acknowledge the troubles of the past), this book offers much. I highly recommend it.

Thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for my free earc in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are all my own.

[Eamonn Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sophy Roberts wrote The Lost Pianos of Siberia, and I bought this book on the strength of that one. A Training School for Elephants is about an expedition by white men into the African interior to Lake Tanganyika in the Congo, dragging with them Asian elephants with a scheme to found a training school for African elephants, all of this to personally benefit Belgian Monarch Leopold II, one of the most repellent and amoral figures in human history. A quote from him re: the destruction of his records pertaining to the atrocious human rights abuses in the Congo: "They may have my Congo, but they do not have the rights to know what I did there." It is about greed, and the insane, non-nonsensical things money and capital will make people do. It's really good, Roberts is a serious talent, and deserves a far more widespread readership than she is getting.

[Sarah Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Colonial history may feel well documented and its legacies well known, but this book gives a refreshing new perspective of just how bombastic, cruel and lingering were the scars of early expeditions onto the African continent. Despite its density of people, places and story arcs, this book was an easy read. Dancing between past and present, Sophy traces the footsteps of a 19th century expedition of Indian elephants into the 'heart of darkness' under the maniacal direction of King Leopold. I was also deeply moved by how delicately, and respectfully Sophy treats such a troubling yet fascinating subject, and her capacity to capture the souls of the elephants themselves in her writing. I would recommend this to anyone interested in truth seeking, history, memoir and adventure!

[Polly Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting perspective on Leopold’s Congo, and the nitty gritty detail of western caravans in the scramble for Africa. Also a fascinating story I had never heard of before. I liked the continual past/present contrast too.

Only criticism is that the title is a bit misleading - there is very little on the actual training school itself. While the story told is an equally interesting one, I felt slightly put out that I didn’t learn much about the story I expected.

[Jasper Dymoke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written, reflecting on a unique story that allowed the author to look at Tanzania’s colonial past through a different lens. She’s a fantastic writer: gently drifting from her own modern day journey trailing that of the colonisers nearly 150 years ago, to the dark past of King Leopold. I loved how she brought in locals and linked them all the way back, threading through time. Powerful and interesting.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hmmm. Better title? Perhaps it’s too long.

Stupid idea poorly executed and a colossal waste of time, life and resources in Africa: 1879 Killing Indian Elephants on African Death March.

Elephant Training School to use Indian elephants to “teach” African elephants to be beasts of burden. Ship 4 Indian elephants to Zanzibar. Then March them 1000 miles westward. Act surprised when this brilliant plan fails.

Maybe a Nat Geo or Smithsonian article but not a book.

[Michael Deaker]

Sophy Roberts is an outstanding researcher, risk-taker, adventurer, and writer. The Siberian pianos and the Indian/African elephants have been great, rather than good, reads and I hope she is right now in the next surprising place writing her next surprising book. Nothing wrong with Dorset but go Sophy!

[Sophie Odenthal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible history book about a colonial expedition in Tanzania, combined with contemporary Tanzanian voices met through modern-day travel. Fantastic telling of a story I would otherwise never have heard - Belgian King Leopold's mad scheme to train Indian elephants to clear rainforest in modern-day Tanzania to make way for Belgian colonisation - beautifully written and fantastically researched.

[Richard Goodfellow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this well written story of colonial Africa in which Roberts follows in the footsteps of Carter, a leader with aspirations to make his name in this new land of opportunity. It illustrates perfectly how Africa's human and animal riches were exploited during the scramble for Africa and the consequences, which still resonate today.

[Ellie McIntyre · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think parts of it were beautifully well written to the point I started underlining things. It took me a while just because it is a denser topic but really interesting to learn about something I knew nothing about.

[Ron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written and somewhat enjoyable from a historical perspective, the contemporary sections were not very interesting. Also, fully one quarter of the book was footnotes and acknowledgements (100 pages).

[OhioanGiraffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written and meaningful

[Elke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite a niche story
Really well written
Good read

[Charlotte Geoghegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the way this was written and learnt so much!