• Alpine Elephant by John Hoyte - Fehmerling Books
  • A personalized inscription on the flyleaf of John Hoyte's 'Alpine Elephant.' The handwritten message in blue ink reads: 'To Wylie & Bonnie, with thanks and our love, Lucie & John'. Below the message is a small, sketch of an elephant followed by John Hoyte's full signature.
  • The back cover of 'Alpine Elephant' by John Hoyte. The orange cover features a black-and-white portrait of the author and a summary of his 1959 British Alpine Hannibal Expedition, which used a real elephant named Jumbo to retrace Hannibal's historical route. The text describes the humorous account of the journey, which was famously sponsored by Life Magazine.
  • Side-angle view of 'Alpine Elephant' resting on a neutral background. The spine prominently displays the title and author's name in a distinct mid-century font, reflecting the well-read condition of this account of the 1959 Hannibal expedition.
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John Hoyte | Travel, Adventure, and History

Alpine Elephant by John Hoyte

Alpine Elephant by John Hoyte

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A Delightfully Amusing 1975 Travel Memoir Recreating Hannibal's Alpine Crossing with an Elephant

In 1959, British engineering student John Hoyte organized a eccentric historical expedition: proving how Hannibal marched his Carthaginian army into Italy by retracing his route through the Alps accompanied by an actual elephant. Borrowing Jumbo, a gentle female elephant from the Turin Zoo, Hoyte's team trekked across high mountain passes from France to Italy.

His account records navigating steep alpine trails, sudden snowstorms, customs checkpoints, and the utter bewilderment of mountain villagers, producing a charming record of mid-century British adventure humor.

Why You’ll Love This Book

John Hoyte combines military history research with lighthearted wit and high-altitude hiking. A delightful read for fans of eccentric travelogues, European history, and animal-centered adventures.

Edition & Specifications

Publisher: Fabrizio Publications

Pages: 191

Format: Paperback

Publication Date: 1975

ISBN: 

Condition Note:

Condition & Grading Guide

How We Grade Our Books

  • 📸 True-to-Life Photos: For all vintage and pre-loved books, the photos on the page are of the exact physical copy on our shelf. Brand-new books feature official publisher cover art.
  • New: Direct from the publisher; immaculate, unread condition.
  • Like New: Pristine condition with minimal to no shelf wear; looks unread.
  • Very Good: Lightly read with minor shelf wear or light cover creasing. Pages are clean, crisp, and unmarked with a tight binding. (Our baseline standard for pre-loved books.)
  • Good: A well-loved reading copy with visible shelf wear or page aging, but fully intact and structurally sound.

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Our Guarantee & Return Policy

  • 14-Day Returns: Unread books and unopened tea packages can be returned within 14 days of delivery.
  • Damaged in Transit? If your shipment arrives damaged or incorrect, email us within 72 hours of delivery scan at customerservice@fehmerlingbooks.com. We’ll evaluate it immediately and provide a prepaid return label and replacement or full refund.
  • Hassle-Free Support: To start a return, simply email us with your order number.

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$24.00 USD
$24.00 USD
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