Rhinoceros (Reaktion Books - Animal)

the long version

"The rhinoceros's fearsome appearance and powerful leathery frame belie its docile and solitary nature, causing the animal to be consistently perceived by humans as a short-tempered monster to be avoided at all costs. In Rhinoceros Kelly Enright deftly sifts fact from fiction. Early sightings mistook the rhinoceros for the mythical unicorn, while circus displays and tours in 18th-century Europe and 19th-century America presented it as a wonder of nature." "The rhinoceros is now an endangered species in its much-shrunken habitat of Africa and Asia. Its misfortune is that it has long been prized by hunters, some in pursuit of its horn - a valuable ingredient in traditional Asian medicine - while others, such as Theodore Roosevelt and Ernest Hemingway, reckoned it was the ultimate big-game trophy. Today, state and privately funded parts, zoos and environmental lobby groups continue the struggle to save the rhino from extinction. This book also considers portrayals of the animal in film, literature and art. Well illustrated and persuasively argued, Rhinoceros will appeal to all who want to learn more about the culture, history and essential nature of this much misunderstood animal."--Jacket.