When Jacob Jankowski was a young man, he was tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth.   It was the early part of the great Depression. Jacob was a veterinary student, just shy of his degree, so they put him in charge of caring for the circus menagerie. For Jacob, the circus world would be both his salvation and a living hell. The story is told by Jacob--now elderly--looking back on what happened.

Jacob met the beautiful equestrian star Marlena. She was married to August, a charismatic but twisted animal trainer. And of course there was Rosie--an untrainable elephant who was the great gray hope for the third-rate traveling show—the new act that was going to be the salvation of the circus. The only problem was, Rosie didn't have an act—in fact, she couldn't even follow instructions. The bond that grew between Jacob and Marlena and Rosie was one of love and trust, and ultimately, it was their only hope for survival.

Water for Elephants  is surprising, poignant, and funny, a rare novel with a story so engrossing, you may be reluctant to put it down; with characters so engaging, they continue to live long after the last page has been turned; with a world built of wonder, a world so real, one starts to breathe its air…

MOVIE TIE-IN: Water for Elephants, the movie, is based on Sara Gruen’s novel of the same name. It is being released April 22, 2011.  Water for Elephants was directed by Francis Lawrence and stars Robert Pattinson as Jacob Jankowski, Reese Witherspoon as Marlena and Christopher Waltz as August. Hal Holbrook plays the older Jacob  Jankowski.  Other cast members include Mark Povinelli as Kinko/Walter, Jim Norton as Camel, Scott MacDonald as Blackie, James Frain as Rosie’s caretaker, Ken Foree as Earl and Paul Schneider as Charlie O’Brien.