This is a novel loosely based in fact that can make some of us cry at parts of it. The fascination with exotic animals through the centuries has brought out the best and the worst of the populations. This story is told by the rhino keeper of the eighteenth century and also by the very sensitive student with a photographic memory in the twenty-first. It chooses one exotic who was orphaned by poachers and loved by the keeper who did make money from displaying him, but it cost an awful lot just to keep him fed and hydrated. The story is exceptionally well written and each of the characters is as realistic as can be. I want to get the audio when it comes out.
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from History Through Fiction | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles via NetGalley. Thank you! Avail Oct 22, 2024

I adored this historical fiction story about the journey of a Dutch captain, an Indian boy. And an orphaned rhinoceros named Clara. They are devoted to each other and it’s a wonderful story to read.
I enjoyed the switch between present day and eighteenth century timelines. I was engrossed in each story but of course Clara’s life is why we’re here. A special shoutout to her companion, Barkari, the goat. They are BFFs after all.
Highly recommend!

Dutch sea captain Douwemout van der Meer sailed to Calcutta aboard the Knappenhof, on his last voyage for the Dutch East India Company he returned home to Rotterdam, with his cargo hold filled with luxury goods, and on the deck he had a baby orphaned Indian rhinoceros he saved. Douwe and his young friend Zubin toured Europe with Clara, people had never seen a rhino before, they know she’s will be in danger when she reaches adulthood, her horn will be 22.5 inches long and even a priest thinks she’s evil and people should follow god and not creatures.

The story has a dual timeline, its starts in 1740, told mainly from Douwemout van der Meer point of views and later in 2022 from animal lover and college student Andrea Clarkson’s.

American Andrea Clarkson arrives in Holland after a failed marriage proposal, she’s staying in Leiden and she finds hidden in secret desk drawers two hundred and eighty year old documents. As part of her Historical studies she and her colleagues are relocating eighteenth-century graves from being flooded and one of the markers has an animal carved into it and it’s a rhinoceros. Angela want's to solve the mystery of why the headstone has a rhino on it and she discovers the horns are still valuable and people would do anything to get their hands on one.

I received a copy of The Rhino Keeper from NetGalley and History Through Fiction in exchange for an honest review. The author Jillian Forsberg has done considerable research to write an interesting narrative based around the true story of a Dutch sea captain and an orphaned rhinoceros he saved and toured Europe with. Clara was famous, poems and songs were written about her, and she was painted by artists and patted by royals.

The Rhino Keeper is a story about exotic and rare animals and the impact they had on people and still do. An uplifting and hope filled tale for animal lovers and I really liked the parts set in the 18th century, and it’s truly amazing and fascinating how they managed to get a rhino to Holland and I highly recommend this book and five stars from me.

I received a temporary digital copy of The Rhino Keeper by Jillian Forsberg from NetGalley, History Through Fiction and the author in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Douwemout van der Meer, ship captain, buys an Indian rhinoceros, in turn saving her from a terrible fate in her homeland. With the assistance of Zubin, a young Indian orphan, Douwe and his Indian rhino, Clara travel to Europe. Douwe wants to share the joy of Clara and to educate Europeans with a real rhinoceros, a species never seen in Europe prior to 1740. Two hundred and eighty years later, Andrea Clarkson uncovers Douwe's grave, but missing archival records and a disturbed grave-site lead Andrea and her classmate on a mission to rescue Clara's horn, and in turn, the memory of Clara and Douwe.

I always find with two-timeline stories, there is always a stronger story and The Rhino Keeper is no different. I fell in love with the story of Clara and her travels with Douwe and Zubin, which led to my five star rating. Andrea's story felt forced; I didn't truly understand her trauma with her boyfriend's family's game collection as the entire scenario last what appeared to be five minutes? I think Forsberg could flesh that situation out further to help the reader understand her fears and in turn, her motivations throughout the story. I applaud Forsberg for her research into Clara and Douwe's amazing journey, but wish a little more time was spent fleshing out Andrea's storyline. The Rhino Keeper is still a must read for fall 2024.

“The Rhino Keeper” by Jillian Forsberg is a deeply moving and masterfully written historical fiction that captures the essence of courage, compassion, and the unbreakable bond between humans and animals. From the very first page, Forsberg immerses the reader in the world of adventure, love, and companionship across the globe with visits to kingdoms and palaces near and far, weaving a past and present narrative that is both gripping, heartfelt, and full of intrigue.

The story centers on sea Captain Douwemout van de Meer (Douwe), who becomes the lovingly bonded guardian of an orphaned rhinoceros calf, named Clara. Known for transporting livestock cargo across the seas, he was offered a proposition to transport this Behemoth calf orphaned when her mother was killed for her magical horn. As Douwe falls in love with the animal, he sees that he can educate the world that she is more than just a “magical horn” to poach.

Forsberg’s vivid descriptions of the Indian rhinoceros and their adventures across land and sea are breathtaking, painting a picture of its raw beauty and the dangers that lurk within. The author’s ability to bring the animal world (and history) to life is nothing short of extraordinary, making the reader feel as though they are walking alongside Douwe and his beloved rhino.

What truly sets “The Rhino Keeper” apart is its emotional depth. The bond between Douwe, Zubin, and the rhino is portrayed with such tenderness and authenticity that it’s impossible not to be moved.

The characters in this novel are richly developed, multidimensional, and complex, with Douwe standing out as a strong, empathetic protagonist from the historical side and Andrea from the present side. Andrea’s journey of self-discovery, her unwavering commitment to her values, and her love of history and animals make her a character that readers will root for until the very end.

This is a must-read for anyone who loves animals, historical fiction, or simply a beautifully told story. Jillian Forsberg has crafted a novel that is not only entertaining but also deeply poetic leaving a lasting impact long after the final page is turned. I truly loved this book!

Thank you #NetGalley, #jillianForsberg, and #HistoryThroughFiction for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A fascinating story that should have been presented with writing quality to equal the dramatic events. Sadly, that was not the case in my opinion. Disjointed sequences, non-sequiters, and details that added words but not substance were abundant. As much as I wanted to finish this book to learn about the history and outcome, I couldn't do it.

Set in two timelines, the mid-1700’s and the 21st century, this is a story which is based on fact - at least the 1700’s where Clara - a female Indian rhinoceros, an anomaly for that that period in time is based, came to fame after a sea captain, Douwemout van der Meer, saved her from a much worse fate.

Based on the true story of Clara and her journeys from place to place, from the most remote and poverty stricken areas, to being introduced to the King and Queen. There are moments, especially on sea, that she must adjust to, but she remains watched over by her provider, as she watches over him, as well.

In the 21st century, this begins with the discovery of a tombstone which draws the attention of those who are in charge of caring for those whose current residence needs to be moved.

This is a very moving and beautiful story, overall, with moments of danger, but also a lifetime of love, and an ode to the bond of humans and the animals they share their lives and love with.


Pub Date: 22 Oct 2024


Many thanks for the ARC provided by History Through Fiction

Rhino Keeper is a factually based, seriously charming, and an educational mystery. Highly recommended!
I fell in love with Clara. In 1741–1758, Clara, a female Indian rhinoceros became famous for touring Europe and is featured in oil paintings.
Douwe and she faced the hazards of long distance sailing, surviving the treacherous Cape of Good Hope, adverse climate, and interacted with human visitors on her nearly 20 year tour.

The author writes alternating chapters, then and now to present Clara’s story then (18th century) and a current museum mystery (21st century).

Douwemout van der Meer, sea captain and bonded to Clara, is likable and a real person. This historical fiction story is a fascinating and mesmerizing novel about loyalty, love and justice. An excellent author’s note at the conclusion provides clarity and recommendations for further reading.

Thanks to NetGalley and History Through Fiction for this enchanting ARC preview.

The part of the story revolving around the rhino keeper was fabulous. The pacing and character building were excellent; the story fascinating. On the other hand the story revolving around the present-day student, was much weaker. I felt that the characters were washed out and the story didn’t add much. But because it seemed that much more of the book was about the rhino keeper, the book was still well worth reading. Thank you to Netgalley and History Through Fiction for the advance reader copy.

I thoroughly enjoyed "The Rhino Keeper." The cover is exquisite, and the narrative is truly engaging.

I must confess that I found Andrea's character unappealing, and I did not reconcile with her by the conclusion. I find the trauma she went through to be slightly exaggerated given the circumstances. Nevertheless, as a history student myself, I appreciated her pursuit of her career goals and I respected her for that. I do wonder if there could have been a few extra pages giving a more thorough background of her previous relationship seeing as it influenced a significant part of her character?

I was deeply drawn to Douwe's storyline and character. Douwe exhibited considerable charm, and I appreciated the relationship dynamics he established. The intricate details that formed the setting for the 1700s were excellently illustrated. Interestingly, I envisioned Douwe as an African gentleman, and upon conducting a Google search, I was quite taken aback by his actual appearance.

The way Jillian Forsberg seamlessly blended historical facts with fictional elements to fill the story was truly impressive. I found myself completely engrossed in the world she created. I will definitely be recommending this book to all of my fellow readers.

In the 18th century, most in Europe had not had the pleasure of seeing a rhinoceros. A sea captain came to own one on his travels and set out to bring this magnificent creature to the world. This book is loosely based on the true story of Clara as she grew and became an amazing sight as she went from village to village. The writer brought this animal to life for me and I loved reading her story. Read this book and fall in love with Clara and her keepers.

I selected this book from NetG, simply on the basis that my favourite animal is the rhinoceros. From a novel perspective, I had zero expectations.

What I got was incredible. This story is enchanting, beautifully crafted, and with the perfect blend of known history, assumed history, and fiction.

When people say they can't put a book down, they do tend to actually put said book down. However, with Rhino Keeper, I put the book down exactly once (to sleep) , I read the entire book in two sittings, and I could have read a 1000 more pages about Clara

One of the most wonderful stories I've had the pleasure of reading

I love books based on real people and this case a real animal. The story of Clara the rhinoceros and how she got from India to Europe and became a travelling sensation is amazing, and reflects how rare she was at the time in the 1700's.Piecing together her travels from the fragments of history left behind would have been a huge task. The people who loved her, Douwe and Zubin were beautifully portrayed as was the essence of Clara herself. The authors notes are well worth reading as she puts the historical facts into context. A thoroughly enjoyable and well researched book that animal lovers will enjoy and ponder . Thanks to NetGalley for a chance to review this book. Even the cover is gorgeous too.