This is an exploration of the natural history and troubled fate of the elephant. Douglas Chadwick travels the world to acquaint us with these awesome giants. India, Siberia, Botswana, Thailand, Malaysia, Kenya and even an American zoo are all visited and in each place the elephant is revealed as a playful and surprising being, ready to smash the narrow confines from which we traditionally view animals. The book illustrates how the elephant is integral to the history and mythology of the people with whom it has lived, and shows us why, despite that bond, elephants and humans have come into inevitable conflict as they vie for the same crucial tracts of land. This is more than a wildlife book, and yet not merely a conservation polemic - Chadwick shows us why the fate of the elephant is a potent metaphor for our own fate and makes a compelling case for acting immediately to save the elephant from oblivion.