Zarafa by Michael Allin

So, after finishing Inheritance by Christopher Paolini, I picked up Zarafa: A Giraffe's True Story, from Deep in Africa to the Heart of Paris by Michael Allin.  So, yes, this is kind of a random book.  I learned about it in an article the Husband sent me in January.  The article had a list of 5 books that shaped "America's Best New Company," Shinola.  This list was created by Shinola's creative director, Daniel Caudill.  The 5th book on Caudill's list is Zarafa.  The Husband thought I would like this book because I love giraffes.  

Zarafa is about the journey, from Africa to Paris, of a giraffe given to King Charles by Muhammed Ali in the 1820s.  Um, what?  Apparently, Muhammed Ali, not the boxer, but an Albanian man who became the Ottoman viceroy of Egypt, gifted this giraffe to King Charles.  But the story is so much more than that.  There are all kinds of non-Egyptian movers and shakers scheming for money, riches, notoriety, influence that have a role and a mention (or more) in this book.

Before I started reading this book on March 21 (finished on April 14), I thought it would be a fascinating, crazy tale of the overland and sea adventures of a giraffe.  It was that, but it was much more.  Before I go more into the book, I feel the need to mention that I have a BA and MA degree in American History, so I've read a book or two by historians.  I know that often "history books" are dry and rambling, and that authors of history books need to drive their point home time and again by stating and restating the point and evidence over and over.  This makes for very dry and very boring books.

Unfortunately, Zarafa was one of these books.  I didn't want this book to be a "history book."  I wanted it to be a wonderful fiction-like non-fiction book.  I wanted it to be exciting, informative, endearing, and fun.  I wanted a grand adventure of a giraffe.  A lovely, sweet, tall giraffe.  But, sadly, no.  This was a "history book."

There was a lot of information about the players.  For example, Bernardino Drovetti, an Italian-born soldier turned French consul general in Egypt.  Drovetti made his fortune trafficking animals, Egyptian antiquities, and mummies to his European clients.  Muhammed Ali, an Albanian-born mercenary in the Ottoman Turkish army turned Egyptian viceroy.  Ali was "modernizing" Egypt with the African slave trade and "confiscatory taxation."  Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilarie, a prominent French scientist, and savant in the l'Institut d'Égypte, started by none other than Napoleon.  Charles X, a Frenchman, a King, and exiled to Britain during France's revolution.

This whole tale of the giraffe started with "Drovetti's eagerness to ingratiate himself with the new king, Charles X, and Muhammed Ali's desire to befriend him..." and would possibly lessen "resentment toward the viceroy's imminent invasion of Greece."  Of course everything prominent political and royal people do is to gain favor or lessen hostilities for one thing or another (in this case invading Greece).

We go through all of this political background and foundation before we even really learn about the giraffe.  In 1824, the giraffe (a female) was captured as an infant in southeast Sudan and by some miracle made it to Alexandria, and then to Marseille, and then to Paris.  What a journey.  Allin researched how the giraffe was transported, and all of the dangers she faced in her journey.  He detailed this journey as best he could using articles and snippets of information he found in his research.

Once in Paris, Allin details how she was cared for and then moved to Paris.  Spoiler alert - the giraffe walked to Paris.  Rich and influential people along the route were eager to see the giraffe at private events.  And, eventually upon arrival in Paris, the giraffe had the audience of the King.

It is a pretty fantastic tale wrapped up in tons of political maneuvering.  I wish there had been less focus on the politics and more information about the giraffe.  I know it isn't always possible to write more about certain things because, sadly, there is no historical evidence to back things up.  The author would have to assume and take creative license, but then it wouldn't be history any more... 

History is fascinating and wonderful to learn about if it is presented in a way that makes it intriguing and exciting.  I know it is possible - I've read several "history books" that didn't seem history-book-ish.  I wish this was more like those.  I still love giraffes, and I'm still fascinated by how a giraffe came from Africa to Paris.  I just wish this book was more about the giraffe and less about the politics.

Me feeding a giraffe at the SF Zoo - it was magical

The Husband feeding a giraffe at the SF Zoo