Christopher Nicholson's debut novel THE ELEPHANT KEEPER is taking the US publishing world by storm, and here are some of the fantastic reviews that it has received so far:

'Big-hearted and warm, with a slow-moving kind of grace, the book is very much like the two elephants that inhabit the world of the novel… Elegant and beautiful, the writing is precise and well-paced… Nicholson illustrates the complexity of human morality in comparison to the pure love exhibited by "dumb creatures." THE ELEPHANT KEEPER is a book that will stay with you long after you have read the last page.' - Anne C. Barnhill, Raleigh News & Observer

'THE ELEPHANT KEEPER is a novel for anyone who loves animals, and believes humans are not the only beings capable of experiencing love, laughter and fear. The rich details and poignancy of the story make it a worthwhile read... THE ELEPHANT KEEPER reads like a richly researched historical tale, but Nicholson hangs this fictional story on the barest scraps of historical record.'
Allecia Vermillion, Chicago Sun-Times

'Christopher Nicholson's enchanting first novel is full of the mingled affection and tragedy that have long marked our relationship with the world's largest terrestrial animals. THE ELEPHANT KEEPER is a strange tour of late 18th-century England, a natural history of elephants and the story of a most unusual friendship, all told with a touch of the otherworldly elegance and wit of Babar.'
Ron Charles, The Washington Post

'THE ELEPHANT KEEPER features a tough-edged loneliness lurking just around its dark corners... Impressively clear-eyed about just how hard it is to be humane to other creatures, to other people and to yourself.'
Todd VanDerWerff, The AV Club

'Narrated in somber tones with an emotional grace reminiscent of the great novels of Thomas Hardy, Nicholson's tender historical novel takes us deep into the heart of eighteenth-century England, exploring man's kinship with the animal world... Languid and melancholy like the giant creatures that stomp within its pages, THE ELEPHANT KEEPER is a veritable smorgasbord of sites, sounds and smells of eighteenth-century rural and city life... Nicholson perfectly captures the beauty and majesty of these amazing animals.'
Michael Leonard, Curled Up

'The character of Jenny embodies gentle grace and becomes the heart of the book… Animal lovers and Anglophiles will find the story original and endearing.' - Jeanne Kolker, Wisconsin State Journal

'A gentle novel of unlikely friendship… The story sweeps us along as it moves forward, and it's so easy to get caught up in Tom and Jenny's lives that pages fly by.' - Lisa McLendon, Wichita Eagle

'[The narrative] brims with fascinating observations and lore… a poignant, heartfelt novel.' - Martin Northway, St. Louis Post-Dispatch

'A deft and lively story… With a light hand, Nicholson conveys the idea that a person's treatment of animals - tender or brutal - is an indication of his or her moral worth.' - Katherine Bailey, Minneapolis Star Tribune

'Enchanting' - Hemispheres

'Engaging… [Nicholson] establishes an unexpected venue of British aristocratic whimsy, along with an unforgettable picture of an elephant/human relationship so close that, as the elephant learns to think like a human, she teaches her human to think like an elephant, too… This is one of the best books of the year, and "the crinkled line of writing on the distant horizon" promises a bittersweet ending that eases the heart, though it may boggle the mind.' - Maude McDaniel, Bookpage

'Nicholson takes readers to a time and place far removed from our own, and on an adventure they won't soon forget… This elegant story is not just for animal lovers. In it, readers see how the bonds of friendship go beyond time, age or species. With its boundless energy and captivating backdrop, [THE ELEPHANT KEEPER] is definitely one to put on your "to read" list.' - Jessica Harrison, Deseret News

'A tale… about a man and an elephant [which] canters along at a delightful pace… Nicholson's elegiac alternate endings leave only the memory of their lasting bond - the elephant's legendary ability to "never forget" is finally ours.' - Publishers Weekly

'On one level, this story of elephants in eighteenth-century England is an endearing account of a virtually telepathic relationship between man and animal… On another level, this is the story of a man whose only soul mate in life is an elephant. A tender yet somewhat disquieting novel.' - Michele Leber, Booklist

'This informative, engaging and moving book has clear insight into the impact of poverty, alienation and isolation that is as relevant today as it was then.' - Top Shelf List, San Francisco Chronicle

In addition to these great reviews, THE ELEPHANT KEEPER was also an Indie Next Pick in the US for August 2009. Please click here for more details.

THE ELEPHANT KEEPER was published by Fourth Estate in the UK in January 2009, and the paperback edition is currently slated to appear in January 2010. First published as a lead title for the launch of the new Dutch imprint Mistral in autumn 2008, rights have also been sold to China and Taiwan.