The Story Archive

The Elephant's Journey

José Saramago · 2008 CE · Novel · Portuguese · Contemporary

In 1551 the elephant Solomon, a gift from the Portuguese king to the Archduke Maximilian, is walked from Lisbon to Vienna with his mahout Subhro and a military escort. The route crosses Spain, Italy and the Alps. A late Saramago comedy built on a documented journey, narrated with his usual digressions on power and religion.

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