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Elephant Company: The Inspiring Story of an Unlikely Hero and the Animals Who Helped Him Save Lives in World War II Audiobook
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J.H. "Billy" Williams always had an affinity for animals. So, when he responded to a job offer with the East India Company to work with logging elephants his family wasn't surprised, though they were worried. He had already come back from World War I in one piece; would he be so lucky with India? Not only did he find his calling with the elephants in India, Billy and his elephants became war heroes. At the onset of World War II, Williams formed Elephant Company and was instrumental in defeating the Japanese in Burma and saving refugees, including on his own "Hannibal Trek." Billy Williams became a media sensation during the war, telling reporters that the elephants did more for him than he was ever able to do for them, but his story has since been forgotten. Part biography, part war story, and part wildlife adventure, Croke delivers an utterly charming narrative and an important, little-known piece of the legacy of World War II. Vicki Constantine Croke has been covering pets and wildlife for more than two decades. She has anchored NECN-TV's "The Secret Life of Animals" and wrote the Boston Globe's "Animal Beat" column for 13 years.
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“Ittakes a proper English voice to narrate this magical, educational story ofelephants, friendship, loyalty, and the twilight of the British Empire. GoldenVoice Simon Prebble, with a fine sense of English resolve, is perfect for thejob of guiding the listener to the Far East, where in 1920 WWI veteran JamesHoward Williams accepted a position with the Bombay/Burma Teak Company. There,he was immediately drawn to the huge, gentle, incredibly intelligent creaturesthat made the industry successful. With the onset of WWII, ‘ElephantBill’ organized the Elephant Company, and Prebble’s voice exhibits just ahint of tension and national pride as he describes how man and beast riskedtheir lives to lead countless refugees over lofty mountain passes to safety.Fascinating listening.”
— AudioFile
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“Elephant Company is as powerful and big-hearted as the animals of its title. Billy Williams is an extraordinary character, a real-life reverse Tarzan raised in civilization who finds wisdom and his true self living among jungle beasts. Vicki Constantine Croke delivers an exciting tale of this elephant-whisperer-cum-war-hero, while beautifully reminding us of the enduring bonds between animals and humans.”
— Mitchell Zuckoff, New York Times bestselling author of Hours -
“The true-life heroics of Elephant Company during World War II highlight how animals and humans together can achieve extraordinary things. Croke’s evocative writing and deep understanding of the animal-human bond bring vividly to life Elephant Bill’s great passion and almost mystical connection with his magnificent beasts. This is a wonderful read.”
— Elizabeth Letts, New York Times bestselling author of The Eighty-Dollar Champion -
“This book is about far more than just the war, or even elephants. This is the story of friendship, loyalty, and breathtaking bravery that transcends species…Croke is a natural storyteller…Elephant Company is nothing less than a sweeping tale, masterfully written.”
— New York Times Book Review -
“Splendid…Blending biography, history, and wildlife biology, [Vicki Constantine] Croke’s story is an often moving account of [Billy] Williams, who earned the sobriquet ‘Elephant Bill,’ and his unusual bond with the largest land mammals on earth.”
— Boston Globe -
“Some of the biggest heroes of World War II were even bigger than you thought…You may never call the lion the king of the jungle again.”
— New York Post
Awards
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A 2014 New York Times Notable Book
Elephant Company Listener Reviews
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7/26/2021
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Richard, 6/6/2015
About Vicki Constantine Croke
Vicki Constantine Croke has been chronicling animal life for more than two decades—tracking polar bears, Tasmanian devils, and Madagascar’s top predator, the fossa. She now covers animal issues for WBUR-FM, Boston’s NPR news station and on WBUR’s The Wild Life online. Her work there earned a 2013 regional Edward R. Murrow Award. She is the author of The Lady and the Panda: The True Adventures of the First American Explorer to Bring Back China’s Most Exotic Animal and The Modern Ark: The Story of Zoos—Past, Present, and Future. Croke has worked on nature documentaries for Disney and for the A&E channel and anchored The Secret Life of Animals on NECN-TV. She lives in the Boston area.