Water for Elephants
Published in 2006, Water for Elephants is a historical romance and historical fiction novel by Sara Gruen, David LeDoux and John Randolph Jones. The story is set in United States, in 1929. It features Marlena, Jacob Jankowski and August. Key subjects include circus performers, depression era, elephants and circus.
Open Library readers give it an average of 3.5 out of 5 from 49 ratings, and 153 more have it on their want-to-read list. It has been published in 36 editions across 4 languages. It appeared on the New York Times Combined Print And E-Book Fiction bestseller list in 2011.
It runs to roughly 355 pages — 6–7 hours of reading at an average pace.
About Water for Elephants
As a young man, Jacob Jankowski was tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. It was the early part of the great Depression, and for Jacob, now ninety, the circus world he remembers was both his salvation and a living hell. A veterinary student just shy of a degree, he was put in charge of caring for the circus menagerie. It was there that he met Marlena, the beautiful equestrian star married to August, the charismatic but twisted animal trainer. And he met Rosie, an untrainable elephant who was the great gray hope for this third-rate traveling show. The bond that grew among this unlikely trio was one of love and trust, and, ultimately, it was their only hope for survival.
Awards & lists
- 📰New York Times bestseller list — Combined Print And E-Book Fiction, 2011
Quick answers
Who wrote Water for Elephants?
Water for Elephants was written by Sara Gruen, David LeDoux and John Randolph Jones and first published in 2006.
What genre is Water for Elephants?
It is usually shelved as Historical Romance, Historical Fiction and Circus & Carnival.
How long is Water for Elephants?
The median edition has 355 pages, about 6–7 hours of reading at 250 words per minute.
What books are similar to Water for Elephants?
Readers who like it often enjoy Pegasus, The Pathfinder and The One and Only Ivan.
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