The Rhino Keeper

De: Jillian Forsberg

Narrado por: Caroline Hewitt

Based on the true story of a Dutch sea captain who traveled with an Indian rhinoceros called Clara across 18th century Europe, THE RHINO KEEPER evokes both the thrill of discovery in the archives and the wonder felt by a world in which no European had seen a living rhinoceros.

2022 – College student Andrea Clarkson uncovers a historical mystery while studying abroad in Holland.

From hidden desk drawers come unusual historical documents featuring a rhinoceros. On a lichen-covered eighteenth-century grave, the same animal is carved. When an expanding river forces exhumation, what she finds buried there is life-changing. Andrea faces her nightmares to retrieve what a grave robber steals: valuable proof of a long-forgotten history.

1740 – Ship captain Douwemout van der Meer has something not seen in two hundred years: the only rhino in Europe, called Clara. Douwemout and Clara tour Europe, enthralling peasants and queens, hoping to change popular views that rhinos are man-eating beasts. Absolute wonder follows, but when a priest sees idol worship and becomes hell-bent on destroying her, Clara, Douwe, and the lives of her bonded caretakers are at risk.

As Douwe becomes protectively dedicated to adventuring with Clara, unexpected love finds him, and his heart starts to tear. Will he choose a life with a traveling wonder-beast forever, or can love exist in many forms for the rhino keeper?

©2024 Colin Mustful (P)2024 Colin Mustful

Delightful hidden bit of history

An interesting tale told with pathos of two people who helped an orphaned beast become the toast of 18th century Europe. Great narration brings the story further forward.

Loved it

Oh boy do I have a lot of thoughts:
- I LOVE that the book starts with a giant “screw you” to people who subscribe to the lost Confederacy myth. After wandering the halls of many writers conferences, careful of what to say and who to say it to, it’s wonderfully refreshing to see a writer put all her politics on display like that.
- I find it interesting that the people in the book who care about animals the most also have the most empathy for people. I don’t know if that’s always true. As a person who wants nothing more than for people of color, immigrants, LGBTQ+ people, etc, to have equal rights, I don’t feel that passion towards animals. That’s definetly due to being raised without pets (my mom was allergic.) But my fury does rise much more when I see people in poverty than when I see animals slaughtered.
- Dual plot line novels can be kind of hit or miss because the audiences cares for one protagonist far more than the other and if the present day characters stumbles into too many coincidental findings from the past. This book knocked it out of the park. I loved both Andrea and Douwe.
- I appreciate that the author included nuance in animal treatment. Zoos keep animals in captivity, but are they justified if it helps humans learn? I don’t know. We need meat to feed the human population. Veganism is expensive for some and impractical for those with soy or nut allergies.
- Although I don’t support the actions of either villain, I’m sympathetic of the sh*t that being in academia can drive a person to.
- A historian writing about 1700s ships theorized that sailors could not keep a gay relationship a secret in the close quarters that a ship provides and it wouldn’t be accepted in the sadly homophobic world of the 1700s. It makes me wonder about gender bending secrets on a ship.
- I’m wondering how Douwe spoke that many languages. Dutch, German, French, English, only to stumble over Italian?