In 1740, Douwemout van der Meer, captain of the Knappenhof for the VOC has landed in Calcutta, India where he has been given an interesting proposition by his boss. Jan Sichterman, in charge of all trade in Bengal, has offered Douwe a young Indian Rhinoceros, Clara, that has been in his care since Clara's mother was slaughtered. However, this would mean that Clara's return trip would also be Douwe's last as captain. Douwe is enchanted by Clara and takes her on, along with her young caretaker, Zubin. Douwe travels with Clara and Zubin all around Europe, bringing the joy of a never before seen animal to everyone from commoners to royalty. Presently, aspiring historian, Andrea Clarkson has decided to take a semester abroad in Holland after a painful breakup. She uncovers a document with a curious picture, a rhinoceros, and then a gravestone with a similar picture. Andrea and the team in Leiden think they have found the link to the mysterious rhinoceros that visited Leiden.
The Rhino Keeper is a captivating dual-timeline historical fiction based on true events. I was pulled in immediately by the opening chapter with Andrea making a strong and definitive decision about her life based on her morals. Her convictions about animal welfare are very strong, and while I agree, it would've been great to know some backstory about her experience with animals. Andrea's choice leads her to Leiden where she is working on preserving history through gravestones. I love this project and it was a great example of how we currently uncover historical mysteries. The timeline in the present, however, was not as developed as Douwe's timeline in the past. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Douwe, Zubin and Clara's adventures through Europe. It was clear that the author loves history and did impeccable research. I enjoyed learning about how Clara traveled, her care and the impact she had wherever she went. There was suspense added in both timelines as the value of Clara's horn reached the wrong people. Overall, The Rhino Keeper is an amazing story that brings history to life.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
The Rhino Keeper is a captivating dual-timeline historical fiction based on true events. I was pulled in immediately by the opening chapter with Andrea making a strong and definitive decision about her life based on her morals. Her convictions about animal welfare are very strong, and while I agree, it would've been great to know some backstory about her experience with animals. Andrea's choice leads her to Leiden where she is working on preserving history through gravestones. I love this project and it was a great example of how we currently uncover historical mysteries. The timeline in the present, however, was not as developed as Douwe's timeline in the past. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Douwe, Zubin and Clara's adventures through Europe. It was clear that the author loves history and did impeccable research. I enjoyed learning about how Clara traveled, her care and the impact she had wherever she went. There was suspense added in both timelines as the value of Clara's horn reached the wrong people. Overall, The Rhino Keeper is an amazing story that brings history to life.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
