The Elephant of Belfast: A Novel
The Elephant of Belfast: A Novel book cover

The Elephant of Belfast: A Novel

Kindle Edition

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Price
$11.99
Publisher
Counterpoint
Publication Date

Description

32nd Annual Reading the West Book Awards NomineeThe Christian Science Monitor , A Best Book of the Year Kirkus Reviews , 1 of 10 Fiction Books to Look for This Year "In 1941, with Nazi bombs shattering Belfast, a young zookeeper rushed to save the elephant in her charge. Walsh’s lovely debut spins this historical sliver into a vivid novel of redemption and mutual care." — The New York Times Book Review "Based on real events, this engrossing novel takes place a year into the Second World War. A three-year-old elephant named Violet arrives at Belfast’s Bellevue Zoo, where Hettie Quin, a young zookeeper mourning the recent death of a sister, finds purpose and solace in caring for her . . . The novel vividly evokes the speed with which war makes the commonplace surreal, as Hettie and Violet become fugitives in a ruined city." –– The New Yorker "The streets of Belfast, both before and after destruction, are compelling in their beauty and horror, and Walsh does well to paint the specifics of such a singular landscape . . . Ultimately, the story is redemptive. It is the second step of recovery, after all, to believe in something bigger than yourself, like an elephant." —Steve Amick, Michigan Public Radio "Breathtaking . . . Walsh explores love, loyalty, and tragedy at a level that makes walking an elephant seem heartbreakingly simple . . . It’s heartening to remember that even through the worst sacrifices, love and courage can prevail." —Rebekah Denn, Christian Science Monitor "A charming debut around a little-known chapter of World War II—the German blitz of Belfast in a city already reeling from sectarian violence. But the real heart of this story centers around the love and devotion between Hettie and Violet, a twenty-year-old zookeeper and an orphaned three-year-old Indian elephant. While war rages on, Hettie will go to great lengths to protect Violet giving readers a riveting story of strength and survival, hope and resilience." — Barnes & Noble "A beguiling and compelling story of historical fiction set during the 1941 Belfast Blitz . . . Walsh’s research pays dividends for the reader as the sights, sounds, and smells of Belfast rise in the imagination . . . The Elephant of Belfast is a heartfelt and heartbreaking, ultimately inspiring and uplifting, tale of coming-of-age in extraordinary circumstances."xa0—Michelle Newby Lancaster, Lone Star Review "The finely drawn prose is cinematic in places, and the characters are vividly brought to life with Walsh’s deft portraiture. The Elephant of Belfast is historical fiction at its best." —D.A. Spruzen, Washington Independent Review of Books " The Elephant of Belfast is deeply emotive . . .xa0Action is heart-pounding; the imagery vivid; the message universal: connections and friendships among living creatures, both animal and human, offer solace, support, and strength in the darkest times." ––K.M. Sandrick, Historical Novels Review "Inspired by the true story of the 'elephant angel' of Belfast, Walsh's debut is a stirring tale of grief, loss, and survival against the chaotic backdrop of the war and the IRA's actions. The unique setting of Belfast during WWII makes this book stand out . . . Overall, fans of WWII fiction and historical fiction will enjoy this fresh take on the era." — Booklist "Offering a distinctive slant among this year’s strong World War II novels." — Library Journal "Walsh fictionalizes in her charming debut a little-known true story from WWII, that of a female Irish zookeeper and a 3,000-pound young elephant. The year is 1940 when 20-year-old Hettie Quin, a part-time zookeeper, waits at the Belfast docks for the arrival of Bellevue Zoo’s latest attraction—a three-year-old elephant named Violet . . . Hettie’s devotion to Violet forms the emotional core of this novel, which does an excellent job of recreating daily life in Belfast during WWII. Hettie and Violet’s bond is one to treasure." — Publishers Weekly "Walsh delivers a turbulent portrait of life in a divided city . . . A unique perspective of a country at war and the lengths people will go for those they love." — Kirkus Reviews "Sensitively rendered and finely drawn, this remarkable story, based on true events, is both uplifting and heartbreaking." —Christina Baker Kline, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Orphan Train and The Exiles --This text refers to the hardcover edition. S. KIRK WALSH is a writer living in Austin, Texas. Her work has been widely published in T he New York Times Book Review , Longreads , StoryQuarterly , and Electric Literature , among other publications. Over the years, she has been a resident at Ucross, Yaddo, Ragdale, and Virginia Center for the Creative Arts. Walsh is the founder of Austin Bat Cave, a writing and tutoring center that provides free writing workshops for young writers throughout Austin. The Elephant of Belfast is her first novel. --This text refers to the hardcover edition.

Features & Highlights

  • 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 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.

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
30%
(200)
★★★★
25%
(167)
★★★
15%
(100)
★★
7%
(47)
★
23%
(152)

Most Helpful Reviews

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You'll never see another elephant without remembering Violet, The Elephant of Belfast.

There are so many beautiful things about this book, most of all the relationship between Hettie, a Belfast zoo's first female zookeeper, and an elephant named Violet. The novel is set during the Belfast Blitz and was so vividly rendered that I felt transported to this world where a young woman and her elephant try to hold each other up while German bombs are going off all around them.

The events of this novel are grueling but so brilliantly juxtaposed with triumphant characters who offer hope at every turn. It's rich with detail in scenes that sweep through life's most dramatic and mundane moments at once: from a glamorous ball, through the care and feeding of zoo animals, through death and destruction, and on to love and more importantly, eternal friendship.

You will not be able to put this book down, even after you've finished it. Three days after finishing The Elephant of Belfast, I can't stop thinking about the characters, both human and animal, and how lucky I was to experience their journey.
20 people found this helpful
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Normalizing sexual assault?

Seriously, I couldn't finish reading this book. I was so looking forward to reading the part of this book that was based on the true story of a female zookeeper keeping an elephant safe during the Belfast Blitz, but I was well over a third of the way into the book and that part of the story hadn't even started yet. Instead I was subjected to a ridiculous character who is attracted to the man/boy who had already sexually assaulted her once and puts herself in a situation to be assaulted yet again! As a survivor of sexual abuse, I really really don't need that in my life.

The author is good at creating mood and atmosphere, but her characters are two-dimensional caricatures and the exposition is far too drawn out and feels too much like a cheap romance novel. Not a fan.
3 people found this helpful
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Harlequin Romance

This historical novel could have been so much better if the author hadn't made it into a bad Harlequin romance, complete with an ambitious heroine who is surrounded by brutish men who all want to ravish her. Trite dialog and moist eyes abound. The gratuitous sex is tiresome and eye-rolling. I was hoping for so much more since the original story, on which this book is supposedly based, is extremely interesting.
3 people found this helpful
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lazy effort

A lot of the dialog doesn't ring true to N Ireland. Words and phrases used don't fit with with the area and some are just plain American. I'm from N Ireland.
Hettie is a strange character to relate to. While you can appreciate that people in real life aren't always perfect, or the same person at work as they are at home, Hettie's personality was pretty inconsistent. That is, she's serious about her work and how she is perceived. Then throws all caution and reason out the window when it comes to men.
The story as a whole could've been tied together better. Felt like the author thought they had looked into some of the history enough that they got a bit overwhelmed or tired of the project in the end and flung the book out to publish saying, good enough!
Didn't totally hate it but wouldn't recommend either.
2 people found this helpful
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My book group loved it!

My book group just had a lively discussion about this beautiful historical novel set in Belfast, which was inspired by a true story during Word War II. The relationship of the young zookeeper, Hettie, and the three-year old elephant, Violet, is so charming and complex, and kept me turning the pages as the pressures mount for the dedicated Hettie, who has already suffered great loss. The novel has strong suspense and gorgeous prose, and I loved learning about the lives of people in Belfast during this historic time.
2 people found this helpful
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From the first chapter, the book rivets you to your chair.

I knew this book was coming, so I felt excited to read it the day it came out. I never disappointed me, for the characters--especially the elephant--were compelling, and I cared about their fates. Even though I wish that Ms. Walsh would continue to place elephants at the center of future narratives, I will read the next novel no matter.
2 people found this helpful
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Pointless

The book demonstrates the horrors of a World War 2 bombing by the Nazis, add to that a splash of IRA activity, nuns who help them, a typically dysfunctional working class family & a teen who forms a bond with am elephant & walks around with it as if it were a poodle. Then the book suddenly just ends. No plot, character development or anything remotely engaging.
1 people found this helpful
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Where’s the ending?

The book was an inspiring read at times, but also really sad. I’m not sure what happened but the book just ended. I even when bank thinking I missed something. I’m really confused on why the book ended where it did.,I’m not a fan when this happens. I feel cheated.
1 people found this helpful
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The Elephant of Belfast - heart wrenching , powerful tale

When the unlikely pair of Hettie and Violet navigate through Belfast during the blitz, the reader’s heart skips a beat. Through all the disappointment and death, they epitomize friendship, love, dedication and sincerity. A take well told.
1 people found this helpful
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Heartwarming Human & Animal Connection

Animals have a healing power for people that is unmistakable. There is nothing like being greeted by a pet who has anxiously awaited your arrival. Based upon the true story of Denise Weston Austin nicknamed the "elephant angel", this work of historical fiction describes an unbreakable bond between a female zookeeper and a three year old orphaned elephant from Ceylon during the time of the Belfast Blitz by the Luftwaffe during WWII.

"Within the mere space of a year, the size of [Hettie Quin's] family had dwindled from four to two". Her father had abandoned the family. Anna, her older sister married a political activist. Anna died in childbirth. Hettie's mother refused to visit her granddaughter, three month old Maeve, who lived in a Catholic neighborhood with Liam, Maeve's father. Hettie tried to distance herself from her mother's suffocating sadness. "Things hadn't always been this way...Despite the rationing, Hettie's mother had put considerable effort into making delicious stews and soups. Rose used to be animated...now the house was largely silent...".

Hettie, twenty years old, had secured a job as part-time zookeeper at the Bellevue Zoo. A three year old orphaned elephant named Violet arrived at the Belfast dock. Hettie was dispatched with other zookeepers to receive her. While walking with Violet, Hettie heard some bystanders engage in political debate. "Was England's difficulty Ireland's opportunity...[to] get rid of the Brits and unite Ireland?" Some thought so. Approaching the zoo, Hettie was informed that Violet would live alone, up to one year, to adjust to her new life. "[Hettie's] fictional conversations with young men always went better when she mentioned her responsibilities for and care of her animal charges...she would become known as the zookeeper at Bellevue...".

"...[Hettie] knew that she was enchanted by Violet just as much as she was frightened of her". Yet, she asked the head zookeeper to make her a full-time zookeeper and take care of Violet. When Violet's current zookeeper enlisted, Hettie got her wish. Violet, familiar with the sound of Hettie's voice, started to expect her visits and treats. Hettie seemed to prefer animals to people. Animals were happy to see her, grateful to be fed and given attention.

Would the Luftwaffe bomb Belfast? "Hettie couldn't stop herself from imagining what an aerial invasion of her city might look like...deafening explosions, spontaneous fires...lost lives". Her uncommon devotion to her charge, and their growing dependence upon each other, helped them weather the actual Luftwaffe bombings and the Ministry of Public Security's orders that dangerous animals be killed because they might escape during air raids. She was bound and determined to keep Violet calm during the air raids and protected from the Constabulary.

"The Elephant of Belfast" by S. Kirk Walsh is a historical novel depicting a special bond between an orphaned elephant and her young zookeeper during a time of sectarian unrest coupled with the German Blitz in April 1941. By writing in beautifully descriptive prose, this reader was able to visualize the difficult, painstaking attempts to unload Violet from the steamer and the challenging walk to the Bellevue Zoo. Descriptions of the Blitz and its repercussions were heartbreaking. This debut novel is an incredible, inspirational story of the power of love and resilience at a time of grief and the destruction and havoc created by war. Highly recommended.
1 people found this helpful

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