The Zookeeper of Belfast cover art

The Zookeeper of Belfast

Preview

Try Premium Plus free
1 credit a month to buy any audiobook in our entire collection.
Access to thousands of additional audiobooks and Originals from the Plus Catalogue.
Member-only deals & discounts.
Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Zookeeper of Belfast

By: S. Kirk Walsh
Narrated by: Charlotte McCurry
Try Premium Plus free

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $26.99

Buy Now for $26.99

Confirm Purchase
Pay using voucher balance (if applicable) then card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions Of Use and Privacy Notice and authorise Audible to charge your designated credit card or another available credit card on file.
Cancel

About this listen

A stunning World War Two novel for fans of Natasha Lester, Heather Morris, Kate Furnivall, Mandy Robotham, based on a true story.

As the bombs rain down on the city, Belfast's first-ever female zookeeper must fight to save the baby elephant in her charge in this gripping, uplifting tale based on a true story.

1941. With the men away fighting, animal-lover Hettie Quin is made Belfast Zoo's first-ever female zookeeper. She is put in charge of Violet, a three-year-old Indian elephant, and they soon form a special bond. With Violet at her side, Hettie can almost escape the grim reality of her life: the father who has abandoned her family; the sister who recently died; the war that's raging hundreds of miles away.

But the devastation of war is closer than she thought. When the bombs begin to rain down on the city, Hettie must gather all her courage to protect those she loves the most. Can she save Violet - and get through unscathed herself?

Based on a true story, The Zookeeper of Belfast is a gripping and uplifting tribute to what one woman's courage and tenacity can achieve in the most dire of circumstances.

©2021 S. Kirk Walsh (P)2021 Hodder & Stoughton Ltd
Animals Fiction World War II Elephant Feel-Good War City

Critic Reviews

"Walsh delivers a turbulent portrait of life in a divided city.... A unique perspective of a country at war and the lengths people will go for those they love." (Kirkus Reviews)

"Sensitively rendered and finely drawn, this remarkable story, based on true events, is both uplifting and heartbreaking." (Christina Baker Kline, number-one New York Times best-selling author of Orphan Train)

"Walsh has written a novel of deep affection and knife-edge suspense. A brilliant debut." (Margot Livesey, author of The Boy in The Field)

What listeners say about The Zookeeper of Belfast

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    5
  • 4 Stars
    1
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    5
  • 4 Stars
    1
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    5
  • 4 Stars
    1
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    1

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Lovely story

Hettie Quin became the first-ever woman zookeeper due to the WW11.
She became keeper to 3 year old Indian elephant, Violet.
The story tells how Hettie kept Violet safe during the bombing of Belfast.
If you are an animal lover this book will tickle your fancy.
This book is not only a lovely Animal story, but you get Ireland’s story in the war, and the Republicans push to use the war to rid Ireland of the British.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.