- Paperback: 224 pages
- Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd; New edition edition (27 Feb 1992)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0140166807
- ISBN-13: 978-0140166804
- Product Dimensions: 19.2 x 12.8 x 1.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 216,981 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
This book tells the story of one man's adventures with an elephant. There is no better way to see India than on the back of an elephant, which is exactly what Mark Shand discovered as he set out on a 1000 kilometre journey on Tara, a 30-year old female elephant. Their destination was the Sonepur Mela, the world's oldest elephant market. What began as an adventurous whim soon developed into an unlikely romance. Tara, a scrawny and ill-treated begging elephant which Shand had acquired, was transformed through tender loving care on the journey into a star attraction. This book provides an account of the trials and tribulations of their journey.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
27 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The British seem to be particularly adept at coming up with whimsical ideas, making them happen, and then writing about them (cf. comedian Tony Hawk's Round Ireland With A Fridge, and Playing the Moldovans At Tennis or journalist Andrew Marshall's The Trouser People to mention just a few recent examples). Shand continues the tradition, concocting a scheme to buy an elephant and march around India on its back. This quick-reading book is an account of his adventure in India, where he purchases an emaciated 30-year old elephant for about $6,000 from a pair of saddhus (mystic holy men) in the province of Orissa (a few hundred kilometers SW of Calcutta). His goal is to walk her from the coast to the great elephant market on the banks of the Ganges at Sonepur Mela, some 1000 kilometers north, in Bihar, where he would sell her.
However, as he soon discovers, elephants have a lot of personality, and he quickly falls in love with his. The pleasure of the book is not its travelogue description of the sights and sounds along the way (although these do break things up), but the mischievous antics of the elephant and the discovery of its personality as a loving and lovable creature. Tara, the elephant, displays remarkable intelligence and wit over the course of the journey, although at times Shand does veer into anthropomorphizing her. While he doesn't go deep into the role of the elephant in Indian and Hindu culture, it's clear from his travels that they are widely revered as symbols of Ganesh, as bystanders often often small prayers and alms to Tara.
Shand's own lessons in becoming a "mahoot", one who is versed in the ways of elephants and able to ride/guide one, is an equally fascinating and touching story. An older and younger mahoot are along to train him, as is a photographer friend and two rascally drivers with a support Jeep. It's a fun adventure, with a suspiciously fortuitous climax at the market, when Shand discovers he can't bear to sell his elephant for use as a moneymaking curiosity. It's a touching book in many ways, although some readers may be put off by the notion of a Westerner traipsing around a poor country on an elephant, especially given India's colonial past. Still whatever one may think of that, Shand's love for the animal is clearly genuine. He's written a followup book (Queen of the Elephants), that's apparently not as good.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Mark Shand has the ability to let you make his elephant journey via his words. It is a 'must' read for elephant lovers. The book is a mixture of a travel experience, elephant anecdotes and a love story.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
What a great way to spend time. For anyone that has ever travelled on an elephant (and even those that have not but have wondered what it would be like..) this is a superb read. It has energy, wit and plenty of humour tinged with an almost sadness toward the end that Mark Tully has to leave his beloved Tara (his elephant) behind in India. Your senses are stimulated with the described sights and sounds of India and also the politics!This is a relaxing read that has the ability to incorporate you into the story itself, you feel what they feel and laugh with them too!
And if you enjoy this book then read the book that follows this remarkable story as Parbati is the supreme femanist and enjoys every minute of it!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A noble book for a noble animal
We had never heard of Mark Shand or his journey through India on Tara until we met the magnificent animal while on holiday this year. Read more
Published 13 months ago by YvonneF
For the Love of an Elephant
Mark Shand, British travel writer and conservationist was restless. He was so restless that he decided to ride across India on an elephant. Read more
Published 15 months ago by P. Ingham
Mark Shand - Travels with my Elephant
A very pleasant read, lighthearted and with plenty of Indian mystique! I especially liked Bhim the mahout's anecdotes about elephants. Enjoy.
Published 22 months ago by Sarah
not received
this book was ordered second hand from a market place trader, i have not received it yet although it was 'dispatched' at the beginning of april. Read more
Published on 18 May 2010 by R. E. Shanahan
Excellent, travel writing, adventure and animals
Mark Shand is an excellent author who tells a great story having lived through the experience. Having read River Dog which inspired me to go to Assam and the Brahmaputra river I... Read more
Published on 21 July 2009 by Ms T. Campbell
india
Brilliant book; read it ions ago when first out. Bought it for our our son prior a trip to India, he loved it as much as we did,if you love life , animals, travel, and have... Read more
Published on 19 July 2009 by pat
What a super little book
On elephant-back across India. Dream on. Mark Shand is fortunate enough to be able to indulge the type of whim that most of us can only fantasise about, but he writes about his... Read more
Published on 7 July 2009 by PD Miller
Entertaining and touching
Although at first this book seemed a vaguely amusing travelogue of an eccentric Brit (who happens to be Camilla Parker-Bowles brother), I was surprisingly touched and almost choked... Read more
Published on 11 Jan 2008 by Tamara
From the back cover...
ABOUT THE READER: Since studying at RADA, Paul Shelley has appeared in theatres throughout the country and in the West End. Recent credits include THE SEAGULL and MAJOR BARBARA. Read more
Published on 8 Dec 2007 by Angel Silver
Listmania!
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