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35th out of 96 books
—
13 voters
Zarafa: A Giraffe's True Story, from Deep in Africa to the Heart of Paris
In 1826, a twelve-foot giraffe, that had been captured in the Sudan, shipped down the Nile, and carried across the Mediterranean in a ship's hold, was walking across France. A gift from Mohammed Ali, the most powerful man in Africa, this "beautiful stranger" would become an object of adoration in France. But in this compelling, beautifully rendered book, Michael Allin look...more
Paperback, 224 pages
Published
August 10th 1999
by Delta
(first published 1998)
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The book is subtitled: A Giraffe’s True Story, From Deep in Africa to the Heart of Paris.
In October 1826 a ship arrived at Marseilles carrying the first giraffe ever seen in France. She was a gift from the Ottoman Viceroy of Egypt to the King of France; a politically-motivated offering to ensure a powerful ally. Zarafa had already travelled over 1,000 miles to that point, but still needed to get to Paris. Eventually it was decided that the best approach would be to have her walk the 550 miles f...more
In October 1826 a ship arrived at Marseilles carrying the first giraffe ever seen in France. She was a gift from the Ottoman Viceroy of Egypt to the King of France; a politically-motivated offering to ensure a powerful ally. Zarafa had already travelled over 1,000 miles to that point, but still needed to get to Paris. Eventually it was decided that the best approach would be to have her walk the 550 miles f...more
I bought this book for my giraffe-loving father several years ago and spied it on the shelf when I was visiting at Thanksgiving. My father gave it a lukewarm review, but it wasn't long and I love giraffes, too, so I brought it home to read. There was surprisingly less about the giraffe, Zarafa, then I expected. Nearly the first half of the book is dedicated to Egyptian and French history and the relations between the two countries. In fact, Zarafa's 550 mile walk from Marseille to Paris is almos...more
this is a really sweet story about a giraffe's travel to France. Zarafa was soposed to be a gift to the king, she was almost peraded through france to the king. many people of france cane down to see her, it soon became a fashion to own things with a giraffe related them to it. even when Zarafa dies, her body is stuffed, and put on display in a museum. when there is a fire in the museum, someone takes the head of of the giraffe they think is Zarafa. year latter they find that the head is not Za...more
The giraffe is a gift from the Egyptian viceroy Muhammad Ali to the French king Charles X.
Egypt and the French established very close ties after Napoleon's 1798 attempt to acquire it from the British. Ties were established by the number of "savants" Napoleon left behind after his defeat. They went on to catalog everything and produced a multi-volume discourse on it. Most exceptionally, Charmillion) and thus hieroglyphics could finally be deciphered.
The giraffe's journey and its acceptance by th...more
Egypt and the French established very close ties after Napoleon's 1798 attempt to acquire it from the British. Ties were established by the number of "savants" Napoleon left behind after his defeat. They went on to catalog everything and produced a multi-volume discourse on it. Most exceptionally, Charmillion) and thus hieroglyphics could finally be deciphered.
The giraffe's journey and its acceptance by th...more
This is an incredibly charming and well-written and researched book. Michael Allin condenses a lot of complicated political history of the 18th and 19th century in a straightforward and clear way, all entwined around the journey of Zarafa the giraffe. I was especially excited to read about Zarafa's brief stay in Valence, where I used to live in France. My only complaint is that I wish it was longer. I wanted to know more about Zarafa's life in Paris, but I guess the really interesting story is o...more
i really was looking forward to loving this book. on paper it looked perfect. the charming tale of a gentle giraffe's long journey from the headwaters of the nile to the heart of paris complete with fairy tale pashas, dashing tomb robbers, devoted handlers and lovable bureaucrats (?!) to pump the romantique.
unfortunately, despite this wealth of potential loveliness, too much of this slender volume reads like an accountants diary. perhaps its the source material, apparently the lions share of pri...more
unfortunately, despite this wealth of potential loveliness, too much of this slender volume reads like an accountants diary. perhaps its the source material, apparently the lions share of pri...more
È un saggio interessante per il suo contenuto, ma che non avvince a causa della sua forma. La storia mi è piaciuta e ho apprezzato molto tutto il lavoro di ricerca che deve esserci stato dietro ad una ricostruzione del genere, ma l'esposizione mi è sembrata alquanto inamidata e difficoltosa. Peccato perché è una vicenda con forti potenzialità.
An interesting story telling the history of the region at the time of Zarafa's journey, but I was expecting more of the book to be about her and her carers' travels. I wanted to be ‘lost’ in the story as she ambled across the countryside, but I wasn’t. Lots of facts, but without the balance of atmosphere.
A delightful little book about something totally off the track. Who'd think that sending a giraffe to Paris would be interesting. My older sister recommended it, thinking I'd know some of the places mentioned, and I did. I've spent a bit of time in the Jardin des Plantes i Paris, which is where the giraffe ended up.
The giraffe is more than the world's most beautifully exotic animal - he (or she) is a window into history, particularly (and possibly) French history. So for Francophiles and giraffe-ophiles alike, Zarafa is a definite must-read! (Open Books volunteeer, Melissa)
Lots of history, more than I cared for, but the specifics about the giraffe who wAs captured and travelled to Paris was charming. I fell in love with her just as the people did who she met along the way. I did not know that a giraffe could be so docile, as well as gorgeous!
Interesting piece of history. I enjoyed that aspect. I did not think it was well written. And the author never discusses the Arabs mention in the book. As if they are just a part of the scenery.
Animal lovers will like this book. It is a true saga about a travelling giraffe. What an extraordinary creature. Very touching.
A giraffe walks across France and captures the nation's imagination. I enjoyed this book, though at times I wished for a bit more detail.
A short, charming tale of the first giraffe in France – her journey is traced from her birthplace in Ethiopia, to Egypt, and then to France, where she walked from Marseilles to Paris. Allin manages to combine the natural history of the many exotic animals that flooded into Europe as gifts during the 19th century, with the colonial histories of places that were changed forever by European influence, most notably in Egypt. By using a gentle, innocent animal as the lens for recalling an often bruta...more
i should have liked this book and given it more time but life's too short. wasn't in the mood to read a history book.
The Things you LEARN !
Learned Egyptian history, French history, much about giraffes.
Awesome.
Love love love these unusual interesting historical tales.
Learned Egyptian history, French history, much about giraffes.
Awesome.
Love love love these unusual interesting historical tales.
A very interesting story of one of the first giraffe's shipped out of Africa to France
Not really what I expected. But a good history of Egypt of the time. Not recommended though
oh how my heart was expanded by this book
Apr 15, 2011
Vicki Carroll
added it
I really enjoyed this genre though I expected to find out more about Zaraffa (the giraffe) than political history. It was a good introduction to reading history.
I read this book on Nancy Pearl's suggestion. Really enjoyed the way the author Allin has of personalizing the past and giving a personality to the giraffe. I found it so interesting to hear about Napolean's part in Egyptian history and the journey of this giraffe by boat and then by land through Africa and then France. Having been to Egypt recently, I found the Egyptian part fascinating. But, of course, the French part of the story was my favorite.
Sep 20, 2008
Jay Shahwan
is currently reading it
This is an interesting true story following the path of the first giraffe from the deserts of the Sahara to Paris where Zarafa will become the King's "pet". The story contains many details of historic content, so it's not a quick or easy read, but it's a lovely story and sheds some interesting light on the nature of this lovely animal and how lovingly Zarafa was cared for during this long and arduous journey.
Biraz tarih, biraz antropoloji, arşivler, resimler... Hoş bir öykü. İnsanlar nelere merak salıp emek veriyor? İlgiyle okudum, Sunay Akın'ın İstanbul'da Bir Zürafa'sını okuyup beğenenlere tavsiye ederim.
Might need to give this one another chance as i did not finish it. Subject was very interesting, writing not so great. Why is that so often true with cool nature/animal writings?
This is beautifully writtten book a giraffe's epic journey from Africa to Paris- walking the last 550 miles through the French countywide in 1827. But it is so much more!
Wondering...would I have been fascinated enough to try and go and she Zarafa along her trek? Interesting history.
Interesting more from a historical viewpoint - not a wonderful "novel", but I would recommend it.
Too much history, not enough giraffe. Did you know Giraffe's have the largest eyeballs of any mammal?
Feb 06, 2008
Marina
marked it as to-read
fiona heard about this one on NPR - sounds so interesting
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
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| Open Books Chicago: Volunteer Review: Zarafa by Michael Allin | 1 | 2 | Jul 25, 2012 10:51am |
