The Elephant of Belfast: A Novel
(OverDrive MP3 Audiobook, OverDrive Listen)
Inspired by true events, this vivid and moving story of a young woman zookeeper and the elephant she's compelled to protect through the German blitz of Belfast during WWll
Belfast, October 1940. Twenty-year-old zookeeper Hettie Quin arrives at the city docks in time to meet her new charge: an orphaned three-year-old Indian elephant named Violet. As Violet adjusts to her new solitary life in captivity and Hettie mourns the recent loss of her sister and the abandonment of her father, new storm clouds gather. A world war rages, threatening a city already reeling from escalating tensions between British Loyalists and those fighting for a free and unified Ireland.
The relative peace is shattered by air-raid sirens on the evening of Easter Tuesday 1941. Over the course of the next five hours, hundreds of bombs rain down upon Belfast, claiming almost a thousand lives and decimating the city. Dodging the debris and carnage of the Luftwaffe attack, Hettie runs to the zoo to make sure that Violet is unharmed. The harrowing ordeal and ensuing aftermath set the pair on a surprising path that highlights the indelible, singular bond that often brings mankind and animals together during horrifying times.
Inspired by a largely forgotten chapter of World War II, S. Kirk Walsh deftly renders the changing relationship between Hettie and Violet, and their growing dependence on each other for survival and solace. The Elephant of Belfast is a complicated and beguiling portrait of hope and resilience—and how love can sustain us during the darkest moments of our lives.
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S. Kirk Walsh. (2021). The Elephant of Belfast: A Novel. Unabridged Blackstone Publishing.
Chicago / Turabian - Author Date Citation (style guide)S. Kirk Walsh. 2021. The Elephant of Belfast: A Novel. Blackstone Publishing.
Chicago / Turabian - Humanities Citation (style guide)S. Kirk Walsh, The Elephant of Belfast: A Novel. Blackstone Publishing, 2021.
MLA Citation (style guide)S. Kirk Walsh. The Elephant of Belfast: A Novel. Unabridged Blackstone Publishing, 2021.
| Library | Owned | Available |
|---|---|---|
| Shared Digital Collection | 3 | 3 |
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S. Kirk Walsh lives in Austin, Texas, and her work has been widely published in the New York Times Book Review, Longreads, StoryQuarterly, Electric Literature, and other publications. The Elephant of Belfast is her first novel. Find out more at SKirkWalsh.com.
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Inspired by true events, this vivid and moving story of a young woman zookeeper and the elephant she's compelled to protect through the German blitz of Belfast during WWll
Belfast, October 1940. Twenty-year-old zookeeper Hettie Quin arrives at the city docks in time to meet her new charge: an orphaned three-year-old Indian elephant named Violet. As Violet adjusts to her new solitary life in captivity and Hettie mourns the recent loss of her sister and the abandonment of her father, new storm clouds gather. A world war rages, threatening a city already reeling from escalating tensions between British Loyalists and those fighting for a free and unified Ireland.
The relative peace is shattered by air-raid sirens on the evening of Easter Tuesday 1941. Over the course of the next five hours, hundreds of bombs rain down upon Belfast, claiming almost a thousand lives and decimating the city. Dodging the debris and carnage of the Luftwaffe attack, Hettie runs to the zoo to make sure that Violet is unharmed. The harrowing ordeal and ensuing aftermath set the pair on a surprising path that highlights the indelible, singular bond that often brings mankind and animals together during horrifying times.
Inspired by a largely forgotten chapter of World War II, S. Kirk Walsh deftly renders the changing relationship between Hettie and Violet, and their growing dependence on each other for survival and solace. The Elephant of Belfast is a complicated and beguiling portrait of hope and resilience—and how love can sustain us during the darkest moments of our lives.
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- content: Walsh's debut novel was inspired by the true story of a zookeeper's efforts to save Violet, a young, orphaned elephant in war-torn Belfast during the Irish Troubles. Narrator Charlotte McCurry's comfortable Irish brogue is true to the setting, but her overall performance fails to bring the characters to life. Her delivery is almost a monotone; it has little energy yet often seems rushed. The story focuses on Hettie Quinn, who, at 20, is the youngest zookeeper and the only female. She becomes Violet's primary keeper, finding purpose in caring for her while dealing with personal tragedy in addition to the Belfast Blitz. The lack of emotion in McCurry's performance dampens this story of courage and resilience. An epilogue detailing its historical context also would have been helpful. N.E.M. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine
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Inspired by true events, this vivid and moving story of a young woman zookeeper and the elephant she's compelled to protect through the German blitz of Belfast during WWll speaks to not only the tragedy of the times, but also to the ongoing sectarian tensions that still exist in Northern Ireland today—perfect for readers of historical and literary fiction alike.
Belfast, October 1940. Twenty-year-old zookeeper Hettie Quin arrives at the city docks in time to meet her new charge: an orphaned three-year-old Indian elephant named Violet. As Violet adjusts to her new solitary life in captivity and Hettie mourns the recent loss of her sister and the abandonment of her father, new storm clouds gather. A world war rages, threatening a city already reeling from escalating tensions between British Loyalists and those fighting for a free and unified Ireland.
The relative peace is shattered by air-raid sirens on the evening of Easter Tuesday 1941. Over the course of the...
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