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The Zoo: The Wild and Wonderful Tale of the Founding of London Zoo: 1826-1851 Hardcover – April 4, 2017

by Isobel Charman (Author)
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 67 ratings
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Set in the heart of swirling, Dickensian London, the wondrous history of a unique institution and the incredible characters—human and animal—that populated it.

The founding of a zoo in Georgian London is a story of jaw-dropping audacity in the Age of Empire. It is the story of diplomats, traders, scientists, and aristocratic amateur naturalists charged by Sir Stamford Raffles with collecting amazing creatures from all four corners of the globe.

It is the story of the first zoo in history, a weird and wonderful oasis in the heart of the filthy, swirling city of Dickensian London, and of the incredible characters, both human and animal, that populated it—from Charles Darwin and Queen Victoria to Obaysch the celebrity hippo, the first that anyone in Britain had ever seen. This is a story of Victorian grandeur, of science and empire, and of adventurers and charlatans.

And it is the story of a dizzying age of Empire and industrialization, a time of change unmatched before or since.

This is the extraordinary story of London Zoo.
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  1. Print length
    368 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Pegasus Books
  4. Publication date
    April 4, 2017
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 1.3 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1681773562
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1681773568
Next slide of product details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Vivid, entertaining, and scrupulously researched." ― The New York Times Book Review

"[A] sprightly tale of the London Zoo from its conception in 1824 to the death of its longtime president in 1851. As The Zooengagingly shows us, caring for and observing caged beasts transformed our view of animals—and of ourselves." ― Wall Street Journal

"An incredible piece of detective work, told through the eyes of many key players and famous figures. A bold, no-holds-barred look at one zoo’s beginning." ― Science News

"While all of the primary characters are real, Charman uses creative text and careful research to reimagine aspects of their personalities. Recommended for anyone interested in zoology and the intersection of history and science." ― Library Journal

"In her charming, engaging narrative, the author deftly assumes the points of view of her characters, in the spirit of a Victorian novelist. A deeply researched, terrifically entertaining exploration of the London Zoo ‘through the eyes of some of the people who made it happen.’" ― Kirkus Reviews

"An affecting narrative of the first 25 years of the Zoological Society of London through the stories of seven of its most influential contributors. Charman provides historical and atmospheric details of the era through the eyes of her characters. The book is nuanced, often entertaining, and also tragic, as the Society faced massive mortality rates in its early years." ― Publishers Weekly

"A vivid, panoramic account of the first great public zoo. An intriguing account of a colorful story immersed in Dickensian times." ― Foreword Reviews

"Charman immerses the reader in Dickensian London as she presents the human side of creating a zoo from scratch. Charman delves into the disparate personalities of some of the major players and captures the flavor of the politics as well as the excitement generated by the zoo as the great minds of the age created a scientific wonder." ― Booklist

About the Author

Isobel Charman is an award-winning television producer. She has spent the last decade working in factual documentary production as a writer, researcher, producer, and director and has worked on award-winning films for U.K., European, and U.S. broadcasters. For The Zoo, she has made unprecedented use of the vast archives at the Zoological Society of London. She lives in London.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pegasus Books; First Edition (April 4, 2017)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 368 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1681773562
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1681773568
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.12 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.3 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 67 ratings

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4.1 out of 5 stars
67 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Carol Gohlke
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Things I never knew
    One person found this helpful
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  • Aging Book Lover
    4.0 out of 5 stars Worth Reading
    Reviewed in the United States on June 29, 2017
    This book seems well researched. Personally, I thought it was worth reading just for the pages concerning Charles Darwin. I imagine readers with different interests will find other parts of the book just as compelling.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Daniel
    1.0 out of 5 stars Stinks
    Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2017
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    More blah, blah, blah!
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  • Janet Hunt
    1.0 out of 5 stars Not a wild and wonderful tale
    Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2017
    I checked this out from my local library because: (1) I like animals (2) I like London (3) I like learning about the Victorian era. So it was shocking for an animal lover like me to read in the VERY FIRST PARAGRAPH about a ship at sea with many animals on board catching fire, and all of the animals burn up. What the hell. The passengers miraculously escape and arrive in London, with no explanation as to their rescue or details on how they got there. I read another twenty pages and gave up. Her writing style is very affected and unclear.
    3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • WDP
    5.0 out of 5 stars excellent
    Reviewed in Canada on September 16, 2022
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    excellent
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  • Howard Cale
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Book which makes you appreciate dreamers and visionaries
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 13, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Really enjoyed this book. I once lived near Regents Park and I wish I knew these historical facts and those fascinating lives of those people involved in creating it. I always love a book that makes me want to research more on the subject matter. It’s a pity these people are not as well known (apart from Mr. Darwin) to everyone.
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  • Ian M Gray
    3.0 out of 5 stars Three Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on September 10, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Not impressed - bedtime story telling.
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  • Jules
    4.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating history of the origins of London Zoo – ...
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 31, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    A fascinating history of the origins of London Zoo – the world’s oldest scientific zoo.

    Written almost as if an old fashioned newspaper article itself, this is an engaging tale of how society and perceptions developed to create a slice of the exotic in Regents Park. Filled with scheming individuals, political infighting and personal ambition trampling on animal protection this sets the scene for what we have today.

    I didn’t read the blurb correctly and was expecting the timeline to feature more recent additions and characters such as Guy, the gorilla, or Chi Chi, the giant panda, but this is nevertheless an enjoyable read and leaves room for a sequel to bring things up to date.
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  • Linda Harris
    5.0 out of 5 stars Not what you expect
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 18, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    A great read and very interesting to hear how the London Zoo came into being. Although the stories about how the animals were treated are heart rending they do give a perspective on how over time animal welfare has progressed.
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