Penguin Books Blog

‘Elephantoms is above all a celebration of scientific and intuitive wonder, a work of mystery and delight. Watson’s insights and speculations are dazzling. Part memoir, part lament, the book in the end reads as a prayer not only for the survival of a species but also for the emergence of a new way of being and thinking, a profoundly
different vision of life itself.’
– Wade Davis, explorer-in-residence, National Geographic Society; author of One River

 
ABOUT THE BOOK:

As a child in South Africa, spending summers exploring the wild with his boyhood friends, Lyall Watson came face to face with his first elephant. From that moment on, Watson’s fascination grew into a lifelong obsession with understanding the nature and behaviour of this impressive creature.

Around the world, the elephant – at once a symbol of spiritual power and physical endurance – has been worshipped as a god and hunted for sport. In this captivating portrait of the elephant, Watson draws from scientific research, anthropological studies, and personal experience to document the animal’s wide-ranging capabilities to remember and to mourn; and he reminds us of its rich mythic origins, its evolution, and its devastation in recent history.

Part meditation on an elusive animal, part evocation of the power of place, Elephantoms presents an alluring mix of the mysteries of nature and the wonders of childhood.

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Born in Johannesburg in 1939, Lyall Watson was an author, zoologist, scientist and adventurer. He entered the University of the Witwatersrand at the age of 15 and completed degrees in botany and zoology, and would later gain further degrees in chemistry, geology, marine biology and ecology. He is the author of over twenty books, and is best remembered for the bestseller Supernature, which was first published in 1973 and would go on to sell over 750 000 copies.

  Lewis Carroll’s famous tale of a girl who falls down the rabbit hole is coming to a cinema near you on Friday 5th March! 19-year-old Alice returns to the magical world from her childhood adventure, where she reunites with her old friends and learns of her true destiny: to end the Red Queen’s reign of terror.

The movie stars Johnny Depp and Anne Hathaway and is sure to be a hit (especially as its available in 3D!).

We’ve also got 3 copies of the film tie-in book to give away. Email us at puffin@za.penguingroup.com to be in with a chance!

Very happy Li Cunxin fans who attended this event share their gratitude towards Penguin Books, The Raymond Ackerman Foundation as well as Publicist Janine Daniels who helped make the event the success that it was.  

Dear Janine

Thank you so much for the wonderful opportunity of meeting and listening to Li Cunxin last night – a very moving experience indeed. Penguin and the Raymond Ackerman Foundation are to congratulated for enriching our lives this way. I teach High School History and the Chinese Communist Revolution and it is this sort of real life experience through books and film that deeply touches the lives of students.
Warm regards

Marj Brown

Dear Janine,

May I thank you, and everyone at Penguin and Exclusive Books for offering us such a very magnificent evening.

I am so grateful to have been a winner of 2 omvie tickets, and despite a raapidly-worsening cold, hhung on to see that absolutely stunning rerunion with his parents on-stage  in Washington DC.

What an utterly remmarkable human is Li Cunxin! He is a Ballet Dancer without peer, and possibly also in stoooooooock-broking!   But, above all, he is one of the greatest dancers in liofe.

Thanks again,

Sylvia Magid.

P.S. I never expected such a fabulous guy!! SM

Dear Janine

Thank you and Penguin Books SA, for your involvement with Li Cunxin.

Thanks for bringing this amazing man with his amazing story to us in South Africa! His book, and now his movie, will bring hope to millions, and inspire us all to be better human beings!

Thanks again
Janet

 
Thanks again, to you and Penguin Books
What a humbling experience that was

Best regards

Marion

Dear Janine and all the penguins, I can’t thank you enough for last night’s experience.

It was such a rich experience to meet Li Cunxin, hear his story and then see it in the film.  He touches and inspires with the gentleness of a dancer and the same power.

 Thank you thank you thank you

 
I would like to thank you for the amazing experience last night.

To have Li sigh my book was the highlight of the evening for me.

The movie blew me away, I am going to watch it again when it is launched in SA.

Thanks and regards

Bhina

Hi Janine,

 
We attended the film premier of “Mao’s last dancer” last night at the NuMetro Hyde Park!

My wife and I would just like to say “THANK YOU VERY MUCH” – it was a very special evening, with Li there to add context to the film!  I had read the book a few years ago, but my wife had no expectations – but she ended up sobbing!

Once again – please pass on our wishes and thanks to Li Cunxin and the Ackerman Foundation.

 
Regards

Oweson Flynn

 
Thank you so much for the great evening. We so enjoyed the film and hearing Li Cunxin talk. 

Best wishes Anne-Marie Moore

On friday 26 February between 10h00 and 10h30, Tune into Radio Today on 1485am to listen to Ann Bernstein

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                On Sunday 28^th February, Li Cunxin author of Mao’s Last Dancer will be interviewed on Carte Blanche, so be sure to clear your viewing schedules to watch!

Catch Percy Jackson & The Lightning Thief from 19^th February at a cinema near you! This adventurous tale of a teen who discovers he’s the descendant of a Greek god stars Uma Thurman, Pierce Brosnan and Logan Lerman (as Percy himself).

You can also read an exclusive interview with the author of the bestselling books (Rick Riordan) by clicking here.

Bestselling and much acclaimed Penguin author Dick Francis has died at the age of 89 at his home in the Caymen Islands. Francis was a champion steeple chase jockey and is best known for his prolific thrillers set in the racing world. He retired from racing in 1957 to pursue journalism and in 1962 wrote his first novel titled Death Cert which was later made into a movie.

During his writing career, Francis wrote 42 thriller novels which have been translated into 20 languages. He won 3 Edgar Allan Poe awards for his books Forfeit, Whip hand and Come to Grief. He also received the Cartier Diamond Dagger from the Crime Novel Writers’ Association for his notable contribution to the genre as well as their Lifetime Achievement award in 1996. In 2000 Queen Elizabeth II bestowed upon him one of the highest honours in the British Empire by making him a Commander of the British Empire.

Francis is survived by his two sons, five grandchildren, 1 great grand-son and of course his legendary repertoire of thriller novels.

Click the following link to listen to Nikki Temkin wax lyrical about CHIC JOZI

On friday the 12th February Heidi Holland will be interviewed on SAfm between 13h30 and 14h00 and on Monday the 15th February she will be interviewed on Morninglive between 07h20 and 08h00 where she will be discussing her new book Joburg to Jozi.