2020-11-27
A determined zookeeper in Northern Ireland protects a young elephant during World War II.
Walsh’s novel is inspired by the true story of Denise Austin, a Northern Irish zookeeper who hid an elephant in her house during the 1941 bombing of Belfast by German Luftwaffe forces. The concept sounds whimsical, but this is not a light or frivolous novel. Ambitious zoo assistant Hettie Quin is young, but she has already suffered too much tragedy. Her father abandoned his family for another woman, leaving her mother distraught and depressed. Hettie’s beloved sister, Anna, recently died in childbirth, and their mother wants nothing to do with Anna’s Catholic widower or their child. Hettie’s part-time job at the zoo pays little, and life during wartime is hard. Into this emotional vacuum swings Violet, a young elephant Hettie first sees hoisted from the hold of a ship. She’s enchanted with the animal but isn’t allowed to care for her until Violet’s caretaker enlists. As their bond grows, rumors fly that Germans plan to bomb the city while IRA supporters align themselves with the Germans, gleeful over attacks on London. Walsh delivers a turbulent portrait of life in a divided city, and she wisely steers away from anthropomorphism. The animals, especially Violet, are real, messy, unpredictable creatures who don’t behave as their caretakers might like. As Walsh sets the stage for the bombing, though, sometimes the novel feels padded out, with interludes that don’t add up to much. On occasion Hettie’s behavior feels too impulsive and unlikely, robbing her of any common sense. Still, Walsh offers a unique perspective of a country at war and the lengths people will go for those they love.
A fresh perspective on painful losses during wartime.
Fiction Finalist for the 2021 Writers’ League of Texas Book Awards
32nd Annual Reading the West Book Awards Nominee
The 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." —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 . . . Action 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
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