Lawrence Anthony
Babylon’s Ark: The Incredible Rescue of the Baghdad Zoo(2007)
Author: Lawrence Anthony (with Graham Spence)
Genre: Contemporary Issues (Animal Welfare/Environment)
Book Summary:
When the Iraq War began, Lawrence Anthony was at home in South Africa, watching the news coverage. As a respected conservationist and manager of an African game reserve, he was deeply concerned about the effect of the invasion on the animals at the Baghdad Zoo. He quickly decided to make an attempt to save the animals or, at the very least, make their suffering known to the world. When he arrived at the Baghdad Zoo with two assistants and a car loaded with supplies, he found a ravaged zoo whose inhabitants—roughly 35 of the original 600+ animals—were on the verge of death. What follows is his account of the battle to save the mistreated and abandoned animals of Baghdad, all while in the midst of war. SPOILER: By the end of Anthony’s six-month stay in Baghdad, the zoo had had a major recovery and control was given back to the Iraqis.
Geographical Setting: Baghdad, Iraq
Time Period: Contemporary (2003)
Appeal Characteristics:
One of the major strengths of the book is Lawrence Anthony’s conversational, natural narration of events. His knowledgeable descriptions of animals are both helpful and easy to understand. As a civilian in a warzone, he provides a unique and interesting perspective of the American military in Baghdad at the time. The book is primarily episodic in nature, and various people feature in the book, coming and going with different situations. Anthony makes a particular point of emphasizing each person’s contribution, and so Babylon’s Ark is as much a tribute to the people involved as it is an account of events. The fast-paced nature of the story creates a compelling pace. Anthony’s attention to detail also forms a vivid picture of the sweltering, wartorn city, though he avoids any political commentary about the war. Although many of the events he relates are appalling, Anthony’s determined optimism effectively combats the bleakness and the book ends on an uplifting, philosophical note. There are also several pages of color pictures included of the various animals, places and people involved. These pictures, particularly those of locations, are a good reference for readers, since most are unfamiliar with the area. The book also provides fascinating insight into the country and its people and history.
Read-alikes: Amelia Thomas’s The Zoo on the Road to Nablus: A Story of Survival from the West Bank tells the story of a zoo veterinarian in Palestine and his struggle to keep the zoo functioning in a hostile environment. Readers looking for another story of zoo animal survival with a similarly engaging style and a theme of overcoming great odds may enjoy this book. Over There by journalist Alan Feuer is about his experiences as one of the first reporters in Baghdad when the invasion began. Readers that appreciated Anthony’s firsthand knowledge as well as a cultural insight and civilian perspective on Baghdad may investigate this book. In The Zookeeper’s Wife: A War Story Diane Ackerman relates the story of a zoo director in Warsaw during World War II who sheltered Jews and resisters in the cages. Readers looking for another story of great heroism shown by ordinary people told with a descriptive writing style and accompanied by illustrations may enjoy this highly rated book. Daniel Hahn’s The Tower Menagerie is a history of the wild animals kept in the Tower of London by the English royal family. This may be a good option for readers looking for a lighter account involving animals in captivity, but still with insights about man’s relationship with animals and interesting tidbits about the animal world. Michael R. Gordon and Bernard E. Trainor’s sizeable Cobra II: The Inside Story of the Invasion and Occupation of Iraq is a thoroughly researched account and analysis of the U.S. military’s tactics and includes interviews and firsthand accounts from soldiers. This would be an excellent option for readers that enjoyed the military aspect of Babylon’s Ark as well as the close attention paid to the individuals involved.
Red Flags: Some strong language, and detailed descriptions of animal abuse.
|top|
|
