{"product_id":"claras-grand-tour-travels-with-a-rhinoceros-in-eighteenth-century-europe-paperback","title":"Clara's Grand Tour: Travels with a Rhinoceros in Eighteenth-Century Europe - Paperback","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eGlynis Ridley\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA biography of Clara, an eighteenth-century globe-trotting celebrity that also happened to be a fully grown Indian rhinoceros\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn 1741, an enterprising Dutch sea captain transported a young female Indian rhinoceros from Assam to Europe, where she was displayed before everyone from peasants to princes.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn an age before railways and modern roads, the three-ton Clara, as she became known, had to travel in an enormous coach drawn by eight horses. For seventeen years she journeyed across mainland Europe and Britain: she became a favorite of heads of state, including Frederick the Great and Louis XV; she modeled for scientific portraits and etchings; she inspired poems, songs, and fashions; and she was immortalized in everything from tin coins to the finest porcelain. She was a star.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHer tour involved unprecedented logistical planning, as no one knew how to care for this largest of land mammals. A rhinoceros can eat up to 150 pounds of vegetation a day-two and a half tons a month-and Clara developed an uncommon fondness for oranges, beer, and tobacco. Later, when Clara's popularity threatened to decline, her owner orchestrated a series of publicity stunts. For instance, upon news of Clara's certain and imminent death, there would be an upsurge in interest, sympathy . . . and bookings. She eventually ended her days in London, where she had become famous enough to merit mention in Oliver Goldsmith's \u003ci\u003eHistory of the Earth and Animated Nature\u003c\/i\u003e and in Samuel Richardson's \u003ci\u003eClarissa\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAwarded the prestigious Institute of Historical Research Prize, Glynis Ridley's sparkling history brings Clara's tragicomic story vividly to life. \u003ci\u003eClara's Grand Tour\u003c\/i\u003e is also a portrait of an era that saw the rhinoceros as both an object of marvel and a challenge to fundamental philosophical and theological beliefs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 240\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.65 x 8.24 x 5.51 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e November 29, 2005\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53457778311475,"sku":"9780802142337","price":20.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0990\/0746\/3731\/files\/MxAStJWGw_9780802142337.webp?v=1783106300","url":"https:\/\/s3xxpj-vy.myshopify.com\/products\/claras-grand-tour-travels-with-a-rhinoceros-in-eighteenth-century-europe-paperback","provider":"The Celestial Starlit Phoenix ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}