‘History and travelogue combine wonderfully in this tale of colonial plunder and hubris?Sophy Roberts’ luminous new book is a journey through Africa from Zanzibar to Lake Tanganyika and back, retracing the steps of a long-forgotten expedition.’ – GUARDIAN

‘This is a marvellous book, an important footnote to history – of Sophy Roberts’ intrepid travel with a real purpose, shining a light on colonialism, Belgian and British, and their peculiar obsessions.” – Paul Theroux, author of The Great Railway Bazaar

‘Masterfully weaving adventure, intrigue and the darker truths of colonial ambition into a story as gripping as it is eye-opening.’ – Levison Wood, author of Walking the Nile

‘Deeply researched. Brings to life a bizarre and long-forgotten story of Africa with empathy, intriguing encounters and memorable characters, not least the elephants themselves.’ – Luke Pepera, author of Motherland: A Journey through 500,000 Years of African Culture and Identity

‘Sophy Roberts brings history to life, tackling difficult, sensitive subjects with careful, exquisite prose. Unputdownable.’ – Mary Harper, author of Getting Somalia Wrong?

‘A brave and searching book, rich in history and fierce in spirit. The best sort of travel writing: handsome prose, teeming with humanity and an unwavering sense of wonder.’ – Justin Marozzi, author of Baghdad, City of Peace, City of Blood

In 1879, King Leopold II of Belgium launched an ambitious plan to plunder Africa’s resources. The key to cracking open the continent, or so he thought, was its elephants – if only he could train them.

And so he commissioned the charismatic Irish adventurer Frederick Carter to ship four tamed Asian elephants from India to the East African coast, where they were marched inland towards Congo. The ultimate aim was to establish a training school for African elephants.

Following in the footsteps of the four elephants, Roberts pieces together the story of this long-forgotten expedition, in travels that take her to Belgium, Iraq, India, Tanzania and Congo. The storytelling brings to life a compelling cast of historic characters and modern voices, from ivory dealers to Catholic nuns, set against rich descriptions of the landscapes travelled.

Roberts digs deep into historic records to reckon with our broken relationship with animals, revealing an extraordinary – and enduring – story of colonial greed, ineptitude, hypocrisy and folly.

‘A cautionary tale from the early days of the Scramble for Africa, but poignant and scholarly too. Roberts writes beautifully.’ – Thomas Pakenham, author of The Scramble for Africa

‘A rich, engrossing tapestry of greed and disregard for life ? Few write as compellingly as Roberts, this is her as only she can write.’ – Amal Chatterjee, author of Across the Lakes

‘Richly absorbing… An impressive exploration of Siberia’s terrifying past.’ Guardian
‘Evocative and wonderfully original.’ Colin Thubron
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Siberia’s expansive history is traditionally one of exiles, bitter cold and suffering. Yet there is another tale to tell.

Dotted throughout this remote and beautiful landscape are pianos created during the boom years of the nineteenth century. They tell the story of how, ever since entering Russian culture under the influence of Catherine the Great, piano music has run through the country like blood. How these pianos made the journey into this snow-bound wilderness in the first place is remarkable. That they might be capable of making music in such a hostile landscape feels like a miracle.

The Lost Pianos of Siberia is an absorbing story about a piano hunt – a quixotic quest through two centuries of Russian history and eight time zones stretching across an eleventh of the world’s land surface. It reveals not only an unexpected musical legacy, but profound and brave humanity in the last place on earth you might expect to find it.
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What readers are saying about The Lost Pianos of Siberia:

***** ‘You know a book’s good when, on finishing it, you just want to start again.’
***** ‘Beautifully written, full of compelling anecdotes celebrating Siberia’s extraordinary history.’
***** ‘The most unusual and intelligent way to tell a travel story.’