The Elephant Keepers' Children : A Novel by the Author of Smilla's Sense of Snow

From the author of Smilla's Sense of Snow , an epic novel about faith and the magic of everyday life. Told from the precocious perspective of fourteen-year-old Peter, The Elephant Keepers’ Children is about three siblings and how they deal with their eccentric parents. Peter’s father is a vicar, his mother is an artisan, and both are equally and profoundly devout. The family lives on the (fictional) island of Finø, where people of all religious faiths coexist peacefully. Yet nothing is at it seems. When Peter’s parents suddenly go missing, Peter and his siblings fear the worst—has their parents’ relentless quest to boost church attendance finally put them in danger? Told with poignancy and humor, The Elephant Keepers’ Children is a fascinating exploration of fundamentalism versus spiritual freedom, the vicissitudes of romantic and familial love, and the triumph of the human spirit. “A delightful novel” and international bestseller from the author of Smilla's Sense of Snow ( Guardian ) Danish siblings search for their missing parents—eccentric ‘miracle-makers’—in this whimsical tale about faith and the magic of everyday life. Told from the precocious perspective of 14-year-old Peter, The Elephant Keepers’ Children is about 3 siblings and how they deal with their eccentric parents. Peter’s father is a vicar, his mother is an artisan. Both are equally and profoundly devout, known for fabricating cheap miracles for the congregation of the only church on Finø. People of all religious faiths coexist peacefully on the island—yet nothing is at it seems. When Peter’s parents suddenly go missing, Peter and his siblings fear the worst—has their parents’ relentless quest to boost church attendance finally put them in danger? Told with poignancy and humor, The Elephant Keepers’ Children is a fascinating exploration of fundamentalism versus spiritual freedom, the vicissitudes of romantic and familial love, and the triumph of the human spirit. Living on an island where all faiths coexist peacefully, precocious teen Peter and his siblings are shocked when their devout vicar father and eccentric artisan mother go missing at the height of an effort to boost church attendance.