The Elephant’s Journey Audiobook By Margaret Jull Costa - translator, José Saramago cover art

The Elephant’s Journey

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The Elephant’s Journey

By: Margaret Jull Costa - translator, José Saramago
Narrated by: Christine Williams
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A delightful, witty tale of friendship and adventure from prize-winning novelist Jose Saramago.

In 1551, King Joo III of Portugal gave Archduke Maximilian an unusual wedding present: an elephant named Solomon. In Jose Saramago's remarkable and imaginative retelling, Solomon and his keeper, Subhro, begin in dismal conditions, forgotten in a corner of the palace grounds.

When it occurs to the king and queen that an elephant would be an appropriate wedding gift, everyone rushes to get them ready: Subhro is given two new suits of clothes and Solomon a long overdue scrub. Accompanied by the Archduke, his new wife, and the royal guard, these unlikely heroes traverse a continent riven by the Reformation and civil wars, witnessed along the way by scholars, historians, and wide-eyed ordinary people as they make their way through the storied cities of northern Italy; they brave the Alps and the terrifying Isarco and Brenner Passes; across the Mediterranean Sea and up the Inn River; and at last, toward their grand entry into the imperial city.

©2008 Jose Saramago (P)2011 Audible, Inc. Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Royalty Witty Italy Funny Alps

Critic reviews

"It would be hard to more highly recommend a novel to be downed in a single draft…Simply, this books flows, and keeps on flowing." ( The New York Times)
"His most optimistic, playful, humorous and magical book, a grace note written near the end of his life...The Elephant's Journey is a tale rich in irony and empathy, regularly interrupted by witty reflections on human nature and arch commentary on the powerful who insult human dignity." ( Los Angeles Times)
"A picaresque romp that gleefully skewers the benighted souls clinging to outmoded worldviews while breathtaking new realities unfold right in front of them." ( Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)
Witty Dialogues • Humorous Storytelling • Calm Narration • Beautifully Written • Simple Plot • Historical Journey
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loved the expressions and the interest for sound in the proper language. i count stop hearing the journey and all the critics to the society in the text.

a linguistics itinerary

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Nice to follow a story from so long ago. Nice that it was a simple plot and beautifully adorned in prose

The Elelhant's Journey

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Admired and loved all the way, an elephant and his entourage travel, mostly by foot, from Portugal to Vienna. On the way, his accompanying humans, royally and layman alike, wax philosophical about life, religion, weather and social structures. Terrain changes, names change, weather changes, even names change, but the elephant remains, a calming and admirable edifice of a creature.
Well read by Williams, with a calm and somewhat wry voice.
Good book!

Charming Journey

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Love the narrator!!worth a listen and hope you enjoy!! Hello hello hello hello
Amanda

Wonderful and whimsical

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What a joy this book proved to be! It is detailing for us the journey of the elephant that actually happened, it is a historic fact. And fills it with observations, thoughts and a bit of extra detail to make it alive. It is not every day that an elephant walks from Lissabon to Vienna, you know.

warm, humorous, clever

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This is beautifully written, as all Saramago’s books, but the story lacked something... it felt just like a mere account of facts

Not the best Saramago

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Wordy but enjoyable and humorous true story of an elephant's journey from Lisbon to Vienna.

An Elephant Story

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The Elephant's Journey is fascinating, humorous, and quite enjoyable. I particularly liked the reader's interpretation.

Delightful Tale

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Easy to understand with deep thoughts about history, mankind, status, friendship. It keeps the legend alive about Salomon, the elephant.

It was fun to read and hear.

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I wasn’t sure what to expect and was pleasantly surprised. The story was interesting and I enjoyed imagining the trek made across land and water. This was a good as well as easy read.

Fun and entertaining

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