The first comprehensive 'biography' of one of the first celebrity animals who gave us one of our favourite words. Jumbo, Victorian England's favourite elephant, was born in 1861 in French Sudan, imported to a Parisian zoo and later sold on to London, where - for seventeen years - he dutifully gave children rides and ate buns from their hands, all the while being tortured at night to keep him docile. Worldwide fame came when he was bought by the American showman and scam artist P.T. Barnum in 1881, despite letters from 100 ...
Read More
The first comprehensive 'biography' of one of the first celebrity animals who gave us one of our favourite words. Jumbo, Victorian England's favourite elephant, was born in 1861 in French Sudan, imported to a Parisian zoo and later sold on to London, where - for seventeen years - he dutifully gave children rides and ate buns from their hands, all the while being tortured at night to keep him docile. Worldwide fame came when he was bought by the American showman and scam artist P.T. Barnum in 1881, despite letters from 100,000 British schoolchildren who wrote to Queen Victoria begging her to prevent the sale. Barnum went on to transform Jumbo into a lucrative circus act and one of the most loved animals of all time, establishing elephants as a regular feature of funhouses and menageries the world over. Using the heartwrenching story of Jumbo's celebrity life, tragic death in Canada in 1885, and his enduring cultural legacy, Jumbo is personal and fascinating reflection on our cultural elephantiasis by one of our most distinguished literary-critical detectives, which is guaranteed to amuse, stimulate, provoke and delight in equal measure.
Read Less
Add this copy of Jumbo: the Unauthorised Biography of a Victorian to cart. $2.67, good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Reno rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Reno, NV, UNITED STATES, published by Aurum.
Add this copy of Jumbo: the Unauthorised Biography of a Victorian to cart. $2.98, very good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Atlanta rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Brownstown, MI, UNITED STATES, published by Aurum Press.
Add this copy of Jumbo: the Unauthorised Biography of a Victorian to cart. $2.98, fair condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Reno rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Reno, NV, UNITED STATES, published by Aurum Press.
Add this copy of Jumbo: the Unauthorised Biography of a Victorian to cart. $4.86, new condition, Sold by BargainBookStores rated 3.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Grand Rapids, MI, UNITED STATES.
Add this copy of Jumbo: the Unauthorised Biography of a Victorian to cart. $5.00, very good condition, Sold by Half Price Books Inc rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2014 by Aurum.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Add this copy of Jumbo: the Unauthorised Biography of a Victorian to cart. $5.54, good condition, Sold by Wonder Book - Member ABAA/ILAB rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Frederick, MD, UNITED STATES.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Good. Good condition. A copy that has been read but remains intact. May contain markings such as bookplates, stamps, limited notes and highlighting, or a few light stains.
Add this copy of Jumbo: the Unauthorised Biography of a Victorian to cart. $6.00, new condition, Sold by Marissa's Books and Gifts rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Salt Lake City, UT, UNITED STATES.
Add this copy of Jumbo: the Unauthorised Biography of a Victorian to cart. $6.49, new condition, Sold by Thevillagebookstore rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Fall River, MA, UNITED STATES.
Add this copy of Jumbo: the Unauthorised Biography of a Victorian to cart. $15.04, very good condition, Sold by Goldstone Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Ammanford, CARMS, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2014 by Aurum Press Ltd.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Very good. All orders are dispatched within 1 working day from our UK warehouse. Established in 2004, we are dedicated to recycling unwanted books on behalf of a number of UK charities who benefit from added revenue through the sale of their books plus huge savings in waste disposal. No quibble refund if not completely satisfied.
Add this copy of Jumbo: the Unauthorised Biography of a Victorian to cart. $17.37, very good condition, Sold by Ebooksweb rated 3.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Bensalem, PA, UNITED STATES.
Jumbo, the legendary African elephant, was a 19th-century superstar and his contribution to the English language bears testimony to his celebrity status. But Jumbo, who delighted thousands of children and adults at the Zoological Society in London (the London zoo) and later attracted the attention of thousands of people in America, was not always treated with the respect he deserved by those who were supposed to be looking after him and should have known better. He might well have led a happier life back home. This is really a sad tale of his life in Europe and America and of his tragic death in Canada.
The second part of the book, equally fascinating, deals with elephant-related facts and also tales of some other elephants who became stars for one reason or another.
All in all, this splendid book should provide its readers with plenty of insight into the world of elephants. I once spent a couple of days in their company at an elephant farm in Thailand - an unforgettable, enriching and thought-provoking experience - and can relate to many of the author's thoughts, comments and observations about these delightful animals.This book is more than a biography of Jumbo. It should make one reflect on one's own approach and attitude to animals, not just the elephant!