{"title":"Vicki Croke","description":"\u003cp\u003eDelve into Vicki Croke's insightful explorations of the animal world, blending natural history with compelling storytelling. Perfect for readers who adore nature writing and tales of remarkable creatures.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"elephant-company-book-vicki-croke-9780812981650","title":"Elephant Company","description":"\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eNEW YORK TIMES \u003c\/i\u003eBESTSELLER - A \u003ci\u003eNEW YORK TIMES\u003c\/i\u003e NOTABLE BOOK \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe remarkable story of James Howard Billy Williams, whose uncanny rapport with the world's largest land animals transformed him from a carefree young man into the charismatic war hero known as Elephant Bill \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Billy Williams came to colonial Burma in 1920, fresh from service in World War I, to a job as a forest man for a British teak company. Mesmerized by the intelligence, character, and even humor of the great animals who hauled logs through the remote jungles, he became a gifted elephant wallah. Increasingly skilled at treating their illnesses and injuries, he also championed more humane treatment for them, even establishing an elephant school and hospital. In return, he said, the elephants made him a better man. The friendship of one magnificent tusker in particular, Bandoola, would be revelatory. In \u003ci\u003eElephant Company, \u003c\/i\u003eVicki Constantine Croke chronicles Williams's growing love for elephants as the animals provide him lessons in courage, trust, and gratitude. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e But \u003ci\u003eElephant Company\u003c\/i\u003e is also a tale of war and daring. When Imperial Japanese forces invaded Burma in 1942, Williams joined the elite Force 136, the British dirty tricks department, operating behind enemy lines. His war elephants would carry supplies, build bridges, and transport the sick and elderly over treacherous mountain terrain. Now well versed in the ways of the jungle, an older, wiser Williams even added to his stable by smuggling more elephants out of Japanese-held territory. As the occupying authorities put a price on his head, Williams and his elephants faced his most perilous test. In a Hollywood-worthy climax, 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. Elephant Bill's exploits would earn him top military honors and the praise of famed Field Marshal Sir William Slim. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Part biography, part war epic, and part wildlife adventure, \u003ci\u003eElephant Company\u003c\/i\u003e is an inspirational narrative that illuminates a little-known chapter in the annals of wartime heroism. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003ePraise for \u003ci\u003eElephant Company\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThis 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. . . . \u003ci\u003eElephant Company\u003c\/i\u003e is nothing less than a sweeping tale, masterfully written.\u003cb\u003e--Sara Gruen, \u003ci\u003eThe New York Times Book Review\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eSplendid . . . Blending biography, history, and wildlife biology,  Vicki Constantine] Croke's story is an often moving account of  Billy] Williams, who earned the sobriquet 'Elephant Bill, ' and his unusual bond with the largest land mammals on earth.\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e--The Boston Globe\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Some 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.\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e--New York Post\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003eElephant Company\u003c\/i\u003e is as powerful and big-hearted as the animals of its title. Billy Williams is an extraordinary character, a real-life reverse Tarzan raised in civilization who finds wisdom and his true self living among jungle beasts. Vicki Constantine Croke delivers an exciting tale of this elephant whisperer-cum-war hero, while beautifully reminding us of the enduring bonds between animals and humans.\u003cb\u003e--Mitchell Zuckoff, author of \u003ci\u003eLost in Shangri-La \u003c\/i\u003eand\u003ci\u003e Frozen in Time\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"US \/ WELL_READ \/ SBYB","offer_id":49565239410961,"sku":"CIN0812981650A","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"US \/ GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":49619350618385,"sku":"CIN0812981650G","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49938457592081,"sku":"GOR007278966","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"US \/ VERY_GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":49998887158033,"sku":"CIN0812981650VG","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ WELL_READ \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":50241443496209,"sku":"GOR010269922","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"US \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":51272274018577,"sku":"NIN9780812981650","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":52778318725393,"sku":"GOR007018639","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/0812981650.jpg?v=1751362502"},{"product_id":"cats-up-close-book-vicki-croke-9780896600928","title":"Cats Up Close","description":"Cats Up Close brings the feline world into beautifully sharp focus. Arranged thematically, the book begins with a chapter that shows cats playing and exploring in winter, spring, summer, and fall; subsequent chapters features kittens and cats napping; cats in action; the well-traveled cat; and the social cat (the pedigreed kitty that is able to communicate with other animals). An engaging and entertaining introduction describes the amazing activities of these beloved pets. Celebrating cats that are cuddly and adventurous, lounging on fire escapes or leaping across streams, cavorting with cows or nuzzling up to other furry friends, this appealing compendium provides a fresh, surprising portrait of cats and kittens.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49603907584273,"sku":"GOR002706218","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"US \/ VERY_GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":50646357410065,"sku":"CIN0896600920VG","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/0896600920.jpg?v=1751445902"},{"product_id":"dogology-book-vicki-croke-9781594869204","title":"Dogology","description":"Dog owners, this book reveals, fall into 9 distinct personality types: Angel, Dynamo, Soul Mate, Idealist, Observer, Expert, Buddy, Master, and Free Spirit. While most of us recognize that a rescuing Angel needs to save the neediest dog at the local shelter, what makes a Soul Mate a soft touch for round-headed, big-eyed toy breeds such as Shih Tzus, Pugs, and Pekingese?Authors Vicki Croke and Sarah Wilson, experts on the complex bond between dogs and their owners, use quizzes, psychological insights, and humour to analyze why dog owners gravitate toward certain breeds as pets - and to explain what owner's choices reveal about their character and emotional makeup. With \"Dogology\" in hand, anyone visiting a dog park can instantly spot the various types and subtypes, from the Image Maker fashionista with her accessory Yorkie peeking out of her Prada bag, to the Free Spirit, whose dog often bears a botanical name and rarely comes when called. Similarly, readers will themselves learn that paying attention to the words they choose to praise their dog reveals the specific approval that they crave themselves.With quick checklists to identify what type of dog owners readers are, tips for training, and exercises for bonding with one's dog, \"Dogology\" will make a welcome addition to any of household that now own at least one dog.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49654729703697,"sku":"GOR004109138","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"US \/ GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":49928762065169,"sku":"CIN1594869200G","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1594869200.jpg?v=1751426730"},{"product_id":"lady-and-the-panda-book-vicki-croke-9780375759703","title":"The Lady and the Panda","description":"Here is the astonishing true story of Ruth Harkness, the Manhattan bohemian socialite who, against all but impossible odds, trekked to Tibet in 1936 to capture the most mysterious animal of the day: a bear that had for countless centuries lived in secret in the labyrinth of lonely cold mountains. In The Lady and the Panda, Vicki Constantine Croke gives us the remarkable account of Ruth Harkness and her extraordinary journey, and restores Harkness to her rightful place along with Sacajawea, Nellie Bly, and Amelia Earhart as one of the great woman adventurers of all time. \u003cbr\u003eRuth was the toast of 1930s New York, a dress designer newly married to a wealthy adventurer, Bill Harkness. Just weeks after their wedding, however, Bill decamped for China in hopes of becoming the first Westerner to capture a giant panda an expedition on which many had embarked and failed miserably. Bill was also to fail in his quest, dying horribly alone in China and leaving his widow heartbroken and adrift. And so Ruth made the fateful decision to adopt her husband s dream as her own and set off on the adventure of a lifetime. \u003cbr\u003eIt was not easy. Indeed, everything was against Ruth Harkness. In decadent Shanghai, the exclusive fraternity of white male explorers patronized her, scorned her, and joked about her softness, her lack of experience and money. But Ruth ignored them, organizing, outfitting, and leading a bare-bones campaign into the majestic but treacherous hinterlands where China borders Tibet. As her partner she chose Quentin Young, a twenty-two-year-old Chinese explorer as unconventional as she was, who would join her in a romance as torrid as it was taboo. \u003cbr\u003eTraveling across some of the toughest terrain in the world nearly impenetrable bamboo forests, slick and perilous mountain slopes, and boulder-strewn passages the team raced against a traitorous rival, and was constantly threatened by hordes of bandits and hostile natives. The voyage took months to complete and cost Ruth everything she had. But when, almost miraculously, she returned from her journey with a baby panda named Su Lin in her arms, the story became an international sensation and made the front pages of newspapers around the world. No animal in history had gotten such attention. And Ruth Harkness became a hero. \u003cbr\u003eDrawing extensively on American and Chinese sources, including diaries, scores of interviews, and previously unseen intimate letters from Ruth Harkness, Vicki Constantine Croke has fashioned a captivating and richly textured narrative about a woman ahead of her time. Part Myrna Loy, part Jane Goodall, by turns wisecracking and poetic, practical and spiritual, Ruth Harkness is a trailblazing figure. And her story makes for an unforgettable, deeply moving adventure. \u003cp\u003eFrom the Hardcover edition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"US \/ GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":49724831269137,"sku":"CIN0375759700G","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49888693780753,"sku":"GOR004943304","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49895153893649,"sku":"GOR002267746","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"US \/ WELL_READ \/ SBYB","offer_id":50245902565649,"sku":"CIN0375759700A","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"US \/ VERY_GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":50761928638737,"sku":"CIN0375759700VG","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"US \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":51001926844689,"sku":"NIN9780375759703","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/0375759700.jpg?v=1751071808"},{"product_id":"animal-er-book-vicki-croke-9780525945079","title":"Animal Er","description":null,"brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"US \/ GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":50056537604369,"sku":"CIN0525945075G","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"US \/ VERY_GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":51423268929809,"sku":"CIN0525945075VG","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/0525945075.jpg?v=1750782863"},{"product_id":"elephant-company-book-vicki-croke-9781400069330","title":"Elephant Company","description":"\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eNEW YORK TIMES \u003c\/i\u003eBESTSELLER - A \u003ci\u003eNEW YORK TIMES\u003c\/i\u003e NOTABLE BOOK \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe remarkable story of James Howard Billy Williams, whose uncanny rapport with the world's largest land animals transformed him from a carefree young man into the charismatic war hero known as Elephant Bill \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Billy Williams came to colonial Burma in 1920, fresh from service in World War I, to a job as a forest man for a British teak company. Mesmerized by the intelligence, character, and even humor of the great animals who hauled logs through the remote jungles, he became a gifted elephant wallah. Increasingly skilled at treating their illnesses and injuries, he also championed more humane treatment for them, even establishing an elephant school and hospital. In return, he said, the elephants made him a better man. The friendship of one magnificent tusker in particular, Bandoola, would be revelatory. In \u003ci\u003eElephant Company, \u003c\/i\u003eVicki Constantine Croke chronicles Williams's growing love for elephants as the animals provide him lessons in courage, trust, and gratitude. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e But \u003ci\u003eElephant Company\u003c\/i\u003e is also a tale of war and daring. When Imperial Japanese forces invaded Burma in 1942, Williams joined the elite Force 136, the British dirty tricks department, operating behind enemy lines. His war elephants would carry supplies, build bridges, and transport the sick and elderly over treacherous mountain terrain. Now well versed in the ways of the jungle, an older, wiser Williams even added to his stable by smuggling more elephants out of Japanese-held territory. As the occupying authorities put a price on his head, Williams and his elephants faced his most perilous test. In a Hollywood-worthy climax, 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. Elephant Bill's exploits would earn him top military honors and the praise of famed Field Marshal Sir William Slim. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Part biography, part war epic, and part wildlife adventure, \u003ci\u003eElephant Company\u003c\/i\u003e is an inspirational narrative that illuminates a little-known chapter in the annals of wartime heroism. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003ePraise for \u003ci\u003eElephant Company\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThis 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. . . . \u003ci\u003eElephant Company\u003c\/i\u003e is nothing less than a sweeping tale, masterfully written.\u003cb\u003e--Sara Gruen, \u003ci\u003eThe New York Times Book Review\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eSplendid . . . Blending biography, history, and wildlife biology,  Vicki Constantine] Croke's story is an often moving account of  Billy] Williams, who earned the sobriquet 'Elephant Bill, ' and his unusual bond with the largest land mammals on earth.\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e--The Boston Globe\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Some 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.\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e--New York Post\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003eElephant Company\u003c\/i\u003e is as powerful and big-hearted as the animals of its title. Billy Williams is an extraordinary character, a real-life reverse Tarzan raised in civilization who finds wisdom and his true self living among jungle beasts. Vicki Constantine Croke delivers an exciting tale of this elephant whisperer-cum-war hero, while beautifully reminding us of the enduring bonds between animals and humans.\u003cb\u003e--Mitchell Zuckoff, author of \u003ci\u003eLost in Shangri-La \u003c\/i\u003eand\u003ci\u003e Frozen in Time\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"US \/ VERY_GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":50278605226257,"sku":"CIN1400069335VG","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":50407985873169,"sku":"GOR006259152","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"US \/ GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":52106465247505,"sku":"CIN1400069335G","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ LIKE_NEW \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":52548569039121,"sku":"GOR011935347","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":53135893233937,"sku":"GOR006183784","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"US \/ WELL_READ \/ SBYB","offer_id":53357356286225,"sku":"CIN1400069335A","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1400069335.jpg?v=1750825357"},{"product_id":"cats-up-close-book-vicki-croke-9780789201980","title":"Cats Up Close","description":"Presents nearly three hundred irresistible cats, in a variety of seasons, locales and activities, arranged thematically with an introduction, a chapter that shows cats playing in all seasons, and chapters on cat-napping, cats in action, celebrity cat fanciers, the well-travelled cat and the social cat.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"US \/ WELL_READ \/ SBYB","offer_id":50365782819089,"sku":"CIN0789201984A","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/0789201984.jpg?v=1751043713"},{"product_id":"animal-e-r-book-vicki-croke-9780452281011","title":"Animal E.R.","description":null,"brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"US \/ VERY_GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":50524191457553,"sku":"CIN0452281016VG","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"US \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":51002598392081,"sku":"NIN9780452281011","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"US \/ GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":51324083994897,"sku":"CIN0452281016G","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":52147760627985,"sku":"NLS9780452281011","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"US \/ WELL_READ \/ SBYB","offer_id":52816359096593,"sku":"CIN0452281016A","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/0452281016.jpg?v=1751135556"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.worldofbooks.com\/en-gb\/collections\/author-books-by-vicki-croke.oembed","provider":"World of Books ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}