What's Inside
This volume is an assembly of twelve distinct accounts explaining the origin of various natural features, written as if whispered to an inquisitive child. The narrative voice is consistently conversational, frequently addressing a "Best Beloved" as it traces the consequences of animal behavior during the world’s early stages. Whether detailing a rhinoceros’s ill-fated snack or a leopard’s tactical camouflage shift, these pieces function as mock-mythology. The collection is not a cohesive novel but a series of standalone explanations, ranging from the domestic life of Neolithic cave-dwellers to the cosmic tasks of the Eldest Magician, all delivered with an eccentric, rhythmic cadence that lingers on the mechanics of how the world arrived at its current state.
Works & figures
- Camel
A desert inhabitant who refuses to work until humped. (in “HOW THE CAMEL GOT HIS HUMP”)
- Parsee
A baker whose hat reflects rays of extreme splendor. (in “HOW THE RHINOCEROS GOT HIS SKIN”)
- Tegumai
A Neolithic man who learns to read by accident. (in “HOW THE FIRST LETTER WAS WRITTEN”)
- Cat
A wild creature who refuses to join the domestic system. (in “THE CAT THAT WALKED BY HIMSELF”)
What it's really about
- Origin myths
- How things got their physical form.
- Negotiation
- Animals and humans striking deals.
Why it's memorable
- A rhinoceros eating a cake made of currants and plums.
- A leopard adding fingerprints to his coat using charcoal.
Where to start
Start with How the Camel Got His Hump to appreciate the specific, rhythmic irritation of a creature refusing to move.
For your book club
- The specific role of the Djinn in labour disputes.
- The invention of writing as a father-daughter activity.