THE ELEPHANT WALK
Book ID/图书代码： 11197515B84172
English Summary/英文概要： THE ELEPHANT WALK has all the hallmarks of a classic in the making. Set in 1872, it tells the story of the wager between rival menagerie owners James Jameson and Arthur Albright. When Jameson buys the African elephant Maharajah at a bankruptcy auction in Edinburgh his plan to transport the animal by train to his Belle Vue Zoological Gardens in Manchester hits a snag when the elephant destroys the freight carriage. Rashly, Jameson bets Albright that the elephant will walk to Manchester within seven days – the winner will take all of his rival’s menagerie of animals.
During the excitement of the auction a young, mute pickpocket – known only to us as ‘Boy’ – is apprehended, losing all his stolen goods and knowing only too well the retribution that awaits him from his violent master Scatcherd. But at a moment of crisis he suddenly discovers some kind of affinity with the distressed elephant and before he knows what is happening he is enlisted to star in the marketing spectacle of the elephant walk, disguised as the Indian ‘Prince Dandip’.
As the perilous journey proceeds, Boy meets and befriends the ebullient Hetty and her father, has his life saved by Maharajah, comes up against the sinister Crimple, and nurses a growing suspicion that their progress to Manchester is being followed very closely by someone who does not wish them well.
This is a tremendously rendered story, based on true events orchestrated by real life Victorian entrepreneurs. With deeply engaging characters, a rattling plot and very thoughtprovoking themes, ‘The Elephant Walk’ is a highly accomplished debut.
Chinese Summary/中文概要： 《大象徒步》具有经典作品所拥有的全部特征。故事发生在1872年，讲述了两名相互竞争的动物园主人 Jameson和 Albright之间的赌注。Jameson在爱丁堡的一次拍卖会上购买了一头非洲象Maharajah，计划用火车将其送往他位于曼彻斯特的动物园，不料大象破坏了列车车厢，阻碍了他的计划。冲动之下，Jameson与Albright打赌，赌大象可以在七天之内步行到曼彻斯特，赢的人可以拿走对手动物园里的所有动物。
拍卖会中，一位年轻的小偷（书中只称他“男孩”）被逮捕，丢掉了所有偷来的东西。但就在此时，他突然喜欢上了那头闷闷不乐的大象，就在他还没明白过来发生了什么时，他已经被征召与大象一同徒步，伪装成一名印度王子。
危险的旅程开始了，一路上，“男孩”邂逅并结交了热情的Hetty和他的父亲，大象Maharajah救了他的命，他开始怀疑有人在背后偷偷跟踪他们……
这是一本非常精彩的小说，基于维多利亚时期的真实事件。小说中的人物形象深入人心，情节紧张，又带有发人深省的主题。《大象徒步》无疑是一部颇具成就的处女作。（LYR）
Awards/获奖情况：
About the Author/作者介绍： Jane Kerr是一名BBC广播制作人，从事纸质新闻和广播新闻业已有20年多年。受到童年时代动物园的启发，加上大象徒步的标志性故事，促使她创作了这部小说。Jane Kerr is a producer for BBC Radio at MediaCity in Salford and has over twenty years’ experience in print and broadcast journalism. The Belle Vue Zoological Gardens loomed large in her childhood and the locally iconic story of the elephant walk compelled her to write this novel.
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Rights Status/版权销售情况：Simplified Chinese/简体中文：AVAILABLE
Complex/Traditional Chinese/繁体中文：AVAILABLE
Sales in other countries/其他国家销售情况：Rights Sold: World English Chicken House
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