Water for Elephants – Sara Gruen (Paperback)

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

Orphaned, penniless, and just shy of finishing veterinary school, Jacob Jankowski's luck runs out — until he stumbles onto a moving train and into a new life with the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. Put in charge of the circus's menagerie, Jacob finds himself caught between two very different worlds: the wonder of circus life and the brutality lurking beneath it.

There he meets Marlena, the show's star equestrian performer, married to August, the circus's charismatic and volatile animal trainer. And there he meets Rosie, an elephant no one can seem to train — until an unlikely bond forms between Jacob, Marlena, and Rosie that becomes each of their only hope for survival.

Set against the backdrop of the Great Depression, Water for Elephants is a richly atmospheric novel about love, loyalty, and the strange, vivid world of traveling circus life. It went on to become a #1 New York Times bestseller, a major motion picture, and a Broadway musical — a story that's resonated with readers for nearly two decades.

Details

• Format: Paperback

• Pages: 352

• Publication Date: May 1, 2007

Perfect for:

• Book clubs looking for a vivid, character-driven historical novel

• Fans of unconventional love stories and richly detailed settings

• Readers who enjoy stories that blend charm with darker, more complex themes