The Tusk That Did the Damage
Set in southern India, The Tusk That Did the Damage follows a young documentary filmmaker; a poacher; and The Gravedigger, an elephant infamous for killing humans and then gently burying their bodies. In alternating narrations, their voices illuminate the cruel reality of the ivory trade from all angles.
Quote:
"And he began to receive flashes of memory, snapshots from a time of life so early no one would believe the memories were his. He remembered the first bewildering time he hiccuped in his mothers womb. He remembered the watery glug of his mother's heart, a slow bass to his frantic ticking, and the metallic scent that met him when he emerged into the world. He remembered her face, haggard and doting, with eyes the shifting hue of a stormy day."
Author:
Tania James is the author of novels The Tusk That Did the Damage and Atlas of Unknowns, as well as the short story collection Aerogrammes. She lives in Washington, D.C. with her family.
Published: 2015
Length: 220 pages
Set in: India