Love, Life, and Elephants

An African Love Story

By: Daphne Sheldrick

Narrated by: Virginia McKenna

Length: 14 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

Daphne Sheldrick, whose family arrived in Africa from Scotland in the 1820s, is the first person ever to have successfully hand-reared newborn elephants. Her deep empathy and understanding, her years of observing Kenya's rich variety of wildlife, and her pioneering work in perfecting the right husbandry and milk formula have saved countless elephants, rhinos, and other baby animals from certain death.

In this heartwarming and poignant memoir, Daphne shares her amazing relationships with a host of orphans, including her first love, Bushy, a liquid-eyed antelope; Rickey-Tickey-Tavey, the little dwarf mongoose; Gregory Peck, the busy buffalo weaver bird; Huppety, the mischievous zebra; and the majestic elephant Eleanor, with whom Daphne has shared more than forty years of great friendship.

But this is also a magical and heartbreaking human love story between Daphne and David Sheldrick, the famous Tsavo Park warden. It was their deep and passionate love, David's extraordinary insight into all aspects of nature, and the tragedy of his early death that inspired Daphne's vast array of achievements, most notably the founding of the world-renowned David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and the Orphans' Nursery in Nairobi National Park, where Daphne continues to live and work to this day.

Encompassing not only David and Daphne's tireless campaign for an end to poaching and for conserving Kenya's wildlife, but also their ability to engage with the human side of animals and their rearing of the orphans expressly so they can return to the wild, Love, Life, and Elephants is alive with compassion and humor, providing a rare insight into the life of one of the world's most remarkable women.

©2012 Dame Daphne Sheldrick (P)2012 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“If Dame Daphne hadn't already been honored by the Queen of England, I would peronally lobby on her behalf. This extraordinary woman has saved hundreds of orphaned baby elephants left parentless by poachers, as well as rhinos, gazelles and other African animals . . . As if that wasn't enough, she can write, too.” —Chloe Schama, Smithsonian magazine

“Five Stars . . . [Sheldrick] and her pioneering game warden husband David have often been ahead of science in their understanding of African wildlife. Cynics scoffed for years at the ‘thrilling in the air' many people claimed to feel around elephants, and at the rumours that they could communicate over many kilometres--until it was proved that infrasonic calls at a frequency of 21 hertz were responsible for both phenomena . . . An enchanting memoir . . . This book raises many questions about who belongs where: both people and animals.” —Helen Brown, The Daily Telegraph (UK)

“In this highly personal autobiography, [Sheldrick] recounts a lifetime of fostering orphan mammals, reptiles, and birds while raising a family and helping her valiant husband develop Kenya's national parks in an era of political turmoil and rampant poaching. Filled with eyewitness accounts of African conservation, astute wildlife observations, and a touching love story, Sheldrick's book will delight nature-loving readers.” —Rick Roche, Booklist

My Favorite

I loved this story so much. I related to her story of loss and hope. I have always loved elephants but after reading this book I have a deeper understanding and love for them.

stunning and it will break you open

Everyone should read this book. Especially politicians. It will make you rethink animals and yourself.

Lovely

A great telling of her life. Great performance and a great mix of a memoir in her lifeline and that of the animals she rescued. And a chance to glimpse into what that sort of like may have been like and the early years of conservation in africa and understanding of wild animals.

Beautiful Heartwarming and Painful

I bought the actual book while visiting the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust elephant sanctuary while I was in Africa recently, as a souvenir along with many other things. (I also adopted a couple elephants while there.) This book was everything and more than I could have imagined. Beautifully written. I could easily picture the scenes she so beautifully painted with her words. Having just spent 15 days on safari, there were so many things she spoke of that helped me further understand many of the elephant and other animal behaviors. I laughed and cried many times as she spoke of the love and loss she experienced during her amazing life. The narrator did a beautiful job reading this audible version. The emotion at times in her voice was so real that it was hard to believe it wasn’t Dame Daphne herself. This is one of my favorite books I’ve read. I know I have and will continue to recommend it to others. I will also most definitively read it again.

I truly enjoyed this book!

From start to finish, it felt as if I was along on her life's journey with her. What a wonderful book, a must read for all.

Elephants, inspiration, heart break, wonder! LOVE

This is one of my favorite books of all time! The author reads it and at heartbreaking parts of her story you hear her loss and pain which sends you to that sorrow with her. Daphne never gave up when it would seem like an obvious choice, that is what makes her spectacular. I now have 2 elephant orphans and a rhino we foster which still keeps this story going ( which you can adopt www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org) Daphne proved that with love, compassion, determination and patience you can change the world. The stories of the orphaned baby elephants, zebra, rhinos, wart hogs.... are heart warming. I wish I could be in Kenya helping these animals like her. Make sure you stick with the book through the sad parts...it's hard to swallow the sadness but in the end it is a happy ending which is still continuing today.

Fabulous elephant story

Best book I have ever read on my favorite animal the elephant. So inspiring and enlightening.

Amazing story

This is one of the best books I have read (listened) to. What an incredible woman Dame Daphne Sheldrick is. Her life is one of passion, love, heartache and compassion and I enjoyed every moment. I wish I had read this before I had been to the orphanage this last March. I tell everyone who will listen to me about the work they are doing and I have adopted several elephants for friends so that they will become involved. Thank you to the Sheldrick family for all that you do.

Must Read for Animal Lovers! Gripping, yet Tender

This book changed my life! Dr. Dame Daphne Sheldrick is such an inspiration it's amazing!

Splendid! Love this book!

Would you listen to Love, Life, and Elephants again? Why?

I would definitely listen to this again, and plan to.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

I love animals and thoroughly enjoyed listening to stories from a woman who has largely devoted her life to them. I doubt that I'll ever get to feed a baby elephant or rear an orphaned zebra, so I was glued to every word and description of her experiences with a huge number and variety of creatures. It was also fascinating to hear Sheldrick's first hand account and perspective of the transition of Africa back to the native population, a perspective that most of us do not have. I can only imagine the fear of not only losing one's life but also their way of life while still appreciating that native Africans most certainly had a different point of view.

Any additional comments?

Ms. McKenna's narration was exceptional and brought the book to life. Her voice quivered with emotion at the loss of a precious baby elephant, and was giddy with delight at the antics of Gregory Peck! She made a great book even better.