

Sinossi
Nel Kanavar Wildlife Park, una riserva naturale nel Sud dell’India, in una problematica coabitazione con gli indigeni vivono molti animali protetti. Un giorno la furia dei bracconieri a caccia di avorio si scatena contro un branco di elefanti, risparmiando solo un cucciolo, catturato dopo aver assistito all’uccisione della madre. Dopo anni di cattività l’elefante, divenuto un esemplare enorme e fortissimo, riesce a liberarsi: la scia di sangue e terrore che lascia dietro di sé e la pratica di seppellire le sue vittime sotto rami e terra lo trasformano in una leggenda, facendogli guadagnare il soprannome di Vendicatore. Dalle foreste di querce e magnolie fino alle pianure e ai campi di riso, in molti incroceranno il suo cammino. Fra questi Manu, un ragazzo tranquillo e studioso che si trova coinvolto suo malgrado nella caccia agli elefanti; ed Emma, giovane regista americana che è in India per girare il suo primo film documentario, affascinata dal coraggioso veterinario a capo del progetto di salvaguardia ambientale. Le loro vicende si fondono in un romanzo coinvolgente e maestoso, con un protagonista indimenticabile, divinità e demone al tempo stesso. Una storia di violenza e di lotta per la vita, di amori e tradimenti, lealtà e corruzione, sullo sfondo del rapporto tormentato fra l’uomo e la natura.
- ISBN: 8823515084
- Casa Editrice: Guanda
- Pagine: 256
Recensioni
There are always multiple ways to look at any situation—this novel gives us three: the elephant’s point of view, the poacher’s, and the Western film maker’s. There is truth in all three. I was a volunteer natural history teacher for 17 years—you can take the woman out of the classroom, but you can’t Leggi tutto
(Nearly 3.5) This composite picture of the state of wildlife conservation in India is told from three perspectives: an elephant named the Gravedigger, a poacher, and a documentary filmmaker. James ably intersperses three voices as she explores how people fail to live up to their ideals and make harm Leggi tutto
A wonderful and unusual book. One of the three viewpoints, that of the documentary filmmaker, could've used a bit more development, but other than that, the whole book is spot on. Really enjoyed it.
More like 3.5★ for me. I've been wanting to read this story of elephant conservation for a while, knowing that it is told from 3 different points of view; the poacher, the rather green documentary maker, and the elephant itself. But after having my fingers burned by Ceridwen Dovey 's Only the Animals Leggi tutto
3.5 rating It took a while to gather my thoughts on this one, and I'm not sure I've done so sufficiently now. I enjoyed this book overall. I loved having Gravedigger's perspective, but I think those sections could have been meatier. It never got deep enough. There was just enough to begin empathizin Leggi tutto
What can I say...this book has left me absolutely speechless ~ Such a beautiful, heartbreaking, devastating and captivating novel!
The story of a tribe of elephants in South India, those who want to care for and protect them, those who are willing to exploit them and outsiders looking for a story. It is a clash of cultures, of people and species who have forgotten how to live in harmony and are having to live with the consequenc Leggi tutto
This is a novel that takes place in present day India. Told from three perspectives - that of a film crew, poachers, and an elephant known as The Gravedigger - the reader is privy to the problems and issues facing the survival of elephants. The film crew is in India to follow a veterinarian named Rav Leggi tutto
This book started with the potential to reel me in and become one of those addictive books I couldn't put down. Yet for some reason it didnt work that way for me. I seemed to loose momentum toward the middle of the book but thankfully it recaptured my attention and overall I rated it as a solid 3 Leggi tutto
I love stories with animals. Even when they are portrayed as cruel, as unstoppable, untamed forces of nature, I love their stories. This is no exception. It is a lyrical, evocative portrait of an elephant treated wrong, side by side with the story of a surprisingly sympathetic poacher. I was one of