Jumbo: This Being the True Story of the Greatest Elephant in the World

by Paul Chambers

Jumbo was a superstar of the Victorian era. Every day tens of thousands of people would visit this adored animal known as “the Children’s Pet” at the London Zoo. When P.T. Barnum purchased him for his Greatest Show on Earth, Jumbo’s transport to the United States made headlines for weeks. In North America, Jumbo became an instant sensation, and his name entered our lexicon as an adjective for oversized things. A half century after his death his still-famous and unrivalled popularity was the inspiration for Walt Disney’s Dumbo .
But the story behind the story is more gripping than one could possibly imagine. Jumbo’s moving and surprisingly complex relationship with a junior zookeeper named Matthew Scott is told here for the first time using newly discovered archival material, including Scott’s own diaries. Chambers’ compelling account of Jumbo’s secret history enhances an already magnificent legend.

Genres: Animals, History, Nonfiction, Biography, 19th Century, British Literature, Victorian

224 pages, Paperback

First published March 4, 2008

Reviews

[``Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though Jumbo is an elephant I think he still qualifies as a rags to riches story.

Baby Jumbo was born in Sudan around 1860. With European zoos demanding wildlife from Africa a few enterprising Sudanese began capturing baby animals in order to sell them to European zoos.
Jumbo was the first baby African elephant to arrive in Europe and was sold to the famous French zoo.
The Asian elephants were already popular in Europe but the larger African elephant was much desired.

Transporting baby Jumbo through the desert, along with other animals to be shipped to Europe, caused him to arrive in France looking like a runt, covered in sores with infected feet. The overcrowded and understaffed French zoo wasn't impressed with the African elephant and quickly sold him to the English zoo under false pretenses.

When Matthew Scott arrived from London to oversee Jumbo's removal his first thought was that it would be better to leave the elephant in France as he looked too frail to live much longer.

Matthew Scott managed to bring Jumbo to England alive and carefully supervised his medical care. Scott stayed with the baby elephant all the time, even sleeping with him at night which resulted in a extremely close and affectionate bond between them. Under Scott's ministrations Jumbo soon recovered and Scott began teaching him tricks.

Scott seemed to have been an "elephant whisperer" and the only person that Jumbo would obey.
Jumbo became the main attraction at the London zoo and cheerfully took children for rides on his back. The zoo was raking in money since the arrival of baby Jumbo.

But Jumbo didn't remain a baby forever and at the age of 20 Jumbo hit puberty and experienced 'musth', where testosterone flooded his system, making him dangerous.
While experiencing musth Jumbo would bang against the walls and door of his shed which had to be repaired every morning. When Jumbo almost tore down the brand new elephant enclosure, endangering the other elephants the zoo director knew Jumbo would have to go.

Unfortunately, poor Jumbo's penis starting dropping to the ground, about 4 feet of penis at that. Victorian England was not prepared to see that, especially the women and children. So Jumbo's fate was sealed.

American P.T. Barnum bought Jumbo and managed to ship him to America where he soon became a superstar of the circus. Barnum was an absolute genius at promotion and America couldn't wait for Jumbo to come to their town.

After Jumbo's premature death Barnum had him stuffed and brought him along with his circus to be viewed by fans for a small price.

This book is a must read for all elephant lovers as well as a fascinating read. I did become uncomfortable at times when animal abuse occurred but overall this is an joyful read as baby Jumbo overcame all obstacles and found fame and fortune in America.

[Book Concierge · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a “biography” of the African elephant who gave the world a new word for large, gigantic, stupendous, huge, magnificent: Jumbo.

Chambers details how the young calf was captured by nomadic Hamran traders, and subsequently, through the hands of various dealers in exotic animals, delivered to the zoo in the Jardin des Plantes in Paris. That facility eventually sold the young animal to the London Zoological Society, where he came under the care of Matthew Scott, who would become his champion and life-long keeper, and where Jumbo became the darling of Victorian England.

I’d heard of Jumbo before, but only as part of P T Barnum’s circus. I found it fascinating to learn how the giant elephant was trained and treated while at the London zoo, the thousands of children who received rides on his back, and the outcry on learning that Barnum would take the beloved elephant to America. I also appreciated learning more about the various personalities surrounding Jumbo, from Scott to the head of the London’s Zoological Garden, Abraham Bartlett, to P T Barnum.

I am an admitted fanatic when it comes to elephants, but even I lost interest a few times. And I think that readers who don’t want to read about any mistreatment of animals would best avoid this work. (It’s historically accurate, but that doesn’t make it easier to take.)

[Kirsti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Naw, poor Jumbo :( what a sad story for almost all concerned, especially Jumbo and his trainer. This is a story I knew small facts about, but the story as a whole was unknown to me. This book follows Jumbo from capture to stardom and eventual death. The elephant whose name still lives in modern language was the first to be brought to Europe. After he was bought by a London zoo, he soon became a crowd favorite, especially with children. Eventually he came to America, amid public outcry from all over Britain. Even after his death his hide and bones were part of the travelling circus' shows.

A sad book, but a great look at zoos and circuses of the time. It is extremely well written, with a fast pace but emotional involvement too. Well researched too, with plenty of background information on all the important parts. Five stars for sure!

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A compact, in-depth look at the life of one of the Victorian era's most famous animals. Jumbo experienced celebrity both in England (at the Zoological Gardens in London) and North America (under the ownership of PT Barnum and his associates). Chambers offers a well-written, accessible biography of Jumbo and his lifelong keeper Matthew Scott, while also examining attitudes towards treatment of animals and the behind-the-scenes business and personal clashes that dictated the elephant's life. This is not a feel-good book, which is as it should be, because it undertakes the important task of showing the often dark experiences Jumbo had as the result of his various owners. Yet, for me, it was the extraordinary nature of Scott's devotion to his charge that made this the most compelling.

The one major flaw here is that it has format which contains endnotes that are not indicated in the body of the main text. Instead one must go to the endnotes section, look for the chapter, and then see if the citation you are seeking happens to be there. Without the numbers, you have to endure checking a list that only separates the citations by showing the first words of the sentence to which they refer. It is very tedious and makes it difficult to check Chambers' sources quickly while reading. This is unfortunate because it diminishes the reader's ability to easily see that Chambers did a good amount of research.

[Badiss · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chambers traces Jumbo’s life from his capture in Africa through his long, often controversial residencies in Paris and London zoos to his last days in America. At the Jardin des Plantes in Paris, where the elephant arrived after a grueling nine-month journey, shockingly laissez faire treatment left him undersized, diseased and generally dispirited. He was sold to the Zoological Society of London, where mercurial and devious keeper Matthew Scott turned around his fortunes. Thanks to Scott’s nursing, Jumbo grew into one of the largest creatures ever exhibited in the West, and the marketing ploys of the zoo’s crafty superintendent Abraham Bartlett made him an international sensation.After many years in London, the elephant was sold to P.T. Barnum, expert purveyor of public hokum. When Jumbo refused even to sniff inside the massively reinforced box designed to transport him to America, Barnum transformed a publicity debacle into a coup. Editorials questioned the zoo’s right to export one of England’s major tourist attractions as the general public came in huge numbers to tearfully bid farewell. In America, Jumbo was widely feted as a circus performer, but after several seasons with Barnum’s traveling menagerie, he was killed in a collision with a freight train. It was the end of an era, but his tragic death cemented Jumbo’s legacy.

[Autumn Osborn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Depressing tale of animal abuse for the sake of human entertainment. The author repeated himself and the book moved slowly. Important details were left out, like how did the elephant eat/sleep/use the bathroom when it was trapped in a box for weeks? I’d recommend for the historical perspective but not because it’s a well told story.

[SouthWestZippy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Parts of this book are so heartbreaking it was hard to read. Good book.

[Shari Klase · Rating 4 out of 5]

Circus elephants may soon be a thing of the past but Jumbo will forever be enshrined in history. Jumbo was part of the greatest show on Earth, Barnum and Bailey's circus. He was purchased from the London zoo and was already much beloved before becoming a circus elephant. This is his sad story, along with the even sadder story of his keeper, Matthew Scott. It is said an elephant never forgets. But perhaps its more true that people never forget elephants. Hopefully, this will always be true of Jumbo, the most famous elephant to ever walk this Earth.

[Margaret]

This book, while interesting, highlighted the cruelty, savagery and insensitivity of man to elephants, for me. I found it hard to read at times, particularly when it came to Jumbo's death. Thankfully the current treatment of elephants has changed somewhat for the better. I did not know Jumbo's story and was surprised about his origins and life in London with zookeeper/handler Scott. Worth reading, just be prepared for how animals were handled in the late 1800s.

[Jaimini Mehta · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is well written it reads nicely but for any elephant fans out there it’s perhaps a bit too violent and focuses on much of the violent detail in terms of jumbo and other elephants. At times it feels a little bit sensationalist. Incorporating some of the more ordinary nurse of Jumbo‘s life and perhaps some of the more pleasantries would’ve been a better balance for this book.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is the first biography of an animal that I have read. Superior documentary of material and the time. Timely, now that the "Greatest Show on Earth" has just ended. It was the best book I've read recently!

[Darla Ebert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Compelling historically-speaking. I am guessing the shortness of the book has something to do with there not being enough dependable information to flesh it out. What is there is interesting and tells us a lot about the time period and the attitude toward animals. A good fast read.

[Bookzone_Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why more people haven't read or rated this book I'll never know. It's a historic account of a piece of history in a largely forgotten time period. But it's also a true-story with wonderful characters and emotions.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story of the life of Jumbo. Now I want to watch the movie again! ☺

[TheBookStalker · Rating 5 out of 5]

The biography of an elephant. This is so beautiful if you're an animal lover.

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. Very interesting.

[Diane Lupton · Rating 4 out of 5]

read for the theme - author you have never read before

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love elephants, they are my favorite animal.

I had heard of Jumbo the Elephant but knew nothing about him so I was excited to read this as soon as I could. Now that I've finished it, I am more upset how we humans treat animals..

I was sickened to read how mother elephants were killed in order for hunters to capture and sell their babies. Jumbo's mother was killed and Jumbo was sold into captivity to the French. While in France, Jumbo was completely neglected and isolated from anyone, human or animal. Later, France sold Jumbo to England. When Jumbo arrived in England, the people were shocked at Jumbo's condition. Jumbo had been so neglected by his French keepers that upon arriving in England, his English buyers, who had purchased Jumbo sight unseen, considered putting him out of his misery. They reconsidered and decided to care for Jumbo in order to transform him into the magnificant animal he was. Even though that was their intent, Jumbo's treatment was still not the best but at least there were individuals who showed him affection and loved him. Jumbo was eventually purchased from England by Barnum & Bailey's "greatest show on earth" circus. B&B had Jumbo transported to the United States where he arrived in New York. From there, the circus traveled across the United States and Jumbo proved to be a favorite star of the American people.

When Jumbo was killed, I felt so bad! I couldn't believe he was being walked along railroad tracks. No trains were scheduled to be on the tracks but unscheduled trains used the same tracks. Jumbo was hit by an unscheduled train and died, but not immediately. I cried as I read about Jumbo's dying - it was so sad, but I'm glad to have met Jumbo through this book.

[Laura Cushing · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a an account of the most well-known elephant of all time, Jumbo. He became such a household name that 'jumbo' is now part of our language meaning big. At 11 feet tall, the elephant was surely that. Much more importantly though- he was the first African elephant most Europeans had ever seen. Jumbo tells the story of the elephant's capture in africa, his exhibiting in Paris and London zoos, and his travels with Barnum and Bailey circus. It is also the story of his trainer 'Jumbo' Scott, who was a strange and reclusive man. He loved his elephant so much that when the zoo sold him to the circus, he traveled to America along with him. When Jumbo died in a tragic locomotive accident - it didn't end his fame. Barnum exhibited his stuffed skin for many years, and his bones were sent to the National History museum.

This book is very interesting and provides a detailed account of Jumbo and his trainer. It's a well-researched book that really helps a reader to understand why there was such a Jumbo craze, and the importance of the famous elephant in the history of both Europe and America. Recommended for history buffs, animal lovers, circus and zoo fans.

[Vicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read, I love fact/fiction based around the circus world of ages past - a golden age so rich in anecdotes, acts and colour, the good and the bad of a time when the Big Top was all and the owners, acts and animals were amazing characters and had many a tale to tell.

Fascinating to think of the journey Jumbo must have had from his birthplace to London and then on to America - when you think of travel from the 1890's it was some feat of ingenuity to transport him as a fully grown animal!

Although the book is a little dry generally, it is an interesting tale - and I loved the outrageous publicity courted by Mr Barnum - he'd have been sued all over the place in this day and age with his claims and shenanigans!

It doesn't exactly shy away from the questionable animal ethics involved throughout Jumbo's life, but neither does it go overboard with the animal rights aspects, it hits a nice balance of delivery.

Enjoyable, not too taxing read - but don't check out the photos in the middle if you don't want the plot spoiler before you've read the book!!

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in Victorian England, this is a meticulously researched true story of one of the most magnificent circus
elephants who ever lived. Jumbo was captured in Africa to be part of the collection of animals at zoos in Paris and London before finally becoming an important fixture at the Barnum, Bailey, & Hutchinson circus in the United States. Mr. Chambers vividly recreates Jumbo's world and the colorful figures who were part of it--a keeper who considered Jumbo his friend, a chilly zoo superintendent who only considered Jumbo as part of his business empire, and finally the flamboyant Mr. Barnum whose promotion of the elephant ultimately made Jumbo's name synonymous with anything that was "extra large" in size.

Both remarkable and heartbreaking, Jumbo's life inspired a Broadway musical by the same name, and also inspired Helen Aberson to write a novel entitled Dumbo which was made into a movie by Walt Disney.

This book would also be an interesting read for teens.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me forever to get through this and I'm not sure why so I'll blame the writing. (Yeah, that's it!)

I do think there is some truth to that statement because the story of this African elephant's journey is very interesting. Unfortunately there is A LOT of time spent talking about the infighting among the keeper and the director of the London Zoo and even more time explaining exactly how much time it took to train Jumbo to walk into a crate. It's rather exhausting.

My advice - skip a bunch of that stuff and go on with the story. The most interesting aspects are in the beginning when the author does a great job of describing the horrific elephant (and other "specimen animal") hunting and the end when Barnum brings Jumbo to the US for his circus.

There are some interesting facts in the middle about London and the zoo, etc., but it's just a bit belabored.

Great photo section and some illustrations peppered throughout really help get a good idea of the size and fame of Jumbo.

[Autumn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jumbo, the African Elephant, was Barnum and Bailey's Circus' greatest attraction and super star. Poor Jumbo, though loved by so many children/people he lived rather a tragic life. As an animal lover this was hard for me to read but Chambers does a beautiful job at remaining fair to everyone involved. This covers Jumbo's whole life, his capture as a calf, stays with zoos, time with the circus and then his death. There are a lot of historical facts described besides Jumbo's life like about zoo practices, business, shipping of wildlife, and elephant hunters (which again was hard for me to read). He gives a great voice to Jumbo (elephants are very sensitive wonderful animals) and am glad for it. An interesting side note that does not give away story: The slang word "Jumbo" originated from Jumbo the elephant and his enormous size. So the next time I order a jumbo fry I will think of him.

[GT · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a cool book. Written with meticulous detail seldom afforded a person. And this is about an elephant! Albeit the most famous elephant ever, and forever.

I though I might be in for a light romp through an elephant's 'fun' circus life. This is not that type of treatment, at all. The actual fun was discovering a bit of history I was unaware of. Now I know the origin of "jumbo sized" items, I'm schooled on the mascot of Tufts University (where my brother received his BS), and I've been exposed to the life of a PT Barnum star. Great book.

4 Stars

★ = Horrid waste of time
★★ = May be enjoyable to some, but not me
★★★ = I am glad I read it
★★★★ = Very enjoyable and something I'd recommend
★★★★★ = A rare find, simply incredible

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a nifty little book. An elephant’s biography. Of course, not just any elephant, but the PT Barnum proclaimed greatest, biggest, other –ests in the world. Not to ascribe emotions and human motivations to him, but he was a complicated animal. Orphaned, marched across the Sahara, stuck in a “cell” in the Paris zoo and finally becoming a hero in London and America. But this is also a story about 19th c. zoos, our fascination with the exotic and animal behavior. Ultimately I think this is a tragedy. Jumbo was ripped out of his environment and met a tragic end, based in part on his size. Interesting and touching.

[Mellanie C · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very interesting book from a humanitarian and a historic viewpoint. I'd always wondered where the trope of elephants being afraid of mice came from, and I extrapolated it from this book. In case you've also wondered: Elephants were often chained inside their cages to prevent them from going on rampages. This made them vulnerable to the rodents who infested zoos and circuses. The rodents would chew on the elephants' feet, and the elephants were helpless to stop it because they were virtually immobilized by their very short chains. It breaks my heart to think about it. This would be a very timely read, given the recent closing of Ringling Bros. Circus.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every time I read about elephants, I am reminded of how intelligent and sensitive they are. This book is no exception. Chambers recounts the life of Jumbo and his weird trainer, Matthew Scott . Though it may sound like a goofy topic, I was interested from page one. Poor Jumbo was captured in Africa during the Victorian era and sold to the French. He then went to London and ended his life in the US as property of PT Barnum, etal. In spite of his sometimes difficult life in captvity, he was loved by many and was/is very famous. If you love elephants, read this slim volume.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent! A biography and history of Jumbo the elephant, the Jumbo craze in the U.K., his controversial sale to Barnum, Bailey, and Hutchinson, and his short-lived but massively popular life in the circus. Poignant, surprising, and well-paced--Chambers deftly transforms his source material into fleshed-out, complex characters with amusing and sometimes tragic stories. Don't read Water for Elephants (because it is a very bad book); read this instead! It's a nonfiction version of the book WfE wanted to be.

[Brittany · Rating 1 out of 5]

I fell head over heels for circus lore after reading Water for Elephants, and was dying to get my hands on some real-life circus stories. The story of Jumbo seemed a perfect place to start. But this book was sad from start to finish. I turned the last page feeling disappointed, and Chambers' tone suggested that he did as well. His last line, which quotes the adage, "The bigger they come, the harder they fall," paints Jumbo's life as ultimately a let-down.

Read more here: http://wordsonwordsreviews.blogspot.c...

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jumbo, the elephant that inspired "Dumbo" is overall a good read. There are definitely times when it's tough to find anyone to root for, however, as nearly all of the real characters are heartless or incredibly manipulative. This is a story that will help readers understand how zoos came to be, the savagely brutal way the animals were captured and treated, an egotistical keeper who loved Jumbo more than can be described but could never form a proper bond with a human, and the way that media back then, like today, buys into far too much without really understanding the situation.