Elephant Company: The Inspiring Story of an Unlikely Hero and

Elephant Company: The Inspiring Story of an Unlikely Hero and the Animals Who Helped Him Save Lives in World War II

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER â€¢ A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK

The remarkable story of James Howard â€œBillyâ€ Williams, whose uncanny rapport with the worldâ€™s largest land animals transformed him from a carefree young man into the charismatic war hero known as Elephant Bill

In 1920, Billy Williams came to colonial Burma as a â€œforest manâ€ for a British teak company. Mesmerized by the intelligence and character of the great animals who hauled logs through the jungle, he became a gifted â€œelephant wallah.â€ In Elephant Company, Vicki Constantine Croke chronicles Williamsâ€™s growing love for elephants as the animals provide him lessons in courage, trust, and gratitude.

Elephant Company is also a tale of war and daring. When Japanese forces invaded Burma in 1942, Williams joined the elite British Force 136 and operated behind enemy lines. His war elephants carried supplies, helped build bridges, and transported the sick and elderly over treacherous mountain terrain. As the occupying authorities put a price on his head, Williams and his elephants faced their most perilous test. Elephant Company, cornered by the enemy, attempted a desperate escape: a risky trek over the mountainous border to India, with a bedraggled group of refugees in tow. Part biography, part war epic, Elephant Company is an inspirational narrative that illuminates a little-known chapter in the annals of wartime heroism.

Praise for Elephant Company

â€œThis 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. . . .Â Elephant Company is nothing less than a sweeping tale, masterfully written.â€â€”Sara Gruen, The New York Times Book Review

â€œSplendid . . . Blending biography, history, and wildlife biology, [Vicki Constantine] Crokeâ€™s story is an often moving account of [Billy] Williams, who earned the sobriquet â€˜Elephant Bill,â€™ and his unusual bond with the largest land mammals on earth.â€â€”The Boston Globe

â€œSome 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.â€â€”New York Post

â€œVicki Constantine Croke delivers an exciting tale of this elephant whispererâ€“cumâ€“war hero, while beautifully reminding us of the enduring bonds between animals and humans.â€â€”Mitchell Zuckoff, author of Lost in Shangri-La and Frozen in Time

Country	USA
Brand	Random House Trade Paperbacks
Manufacturer	Random House Trade Paperbacks
Binding	Paperback
ItemPartNumber	FLPK9780812981650
Model	FLPK9780812981650
Color	Multicolor
ReleaseDate	2015-04-14
UnitCount	1
Format	Illustrated
EANs	9780812981650

Elephant Company: The Inspiring Story of an Unlikely Hero and the Animals Who Helped Him Save Lives in World War II

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