An Elephant in the Garden

An Elephant in the Garden, written by British author Michael Morpurgo, is a historical novel set primarily in Germany during World War II. The book, written for middle-grade readers, was first published in Great Britain in 2010 by HarperCollins Children’s Books; in 2011, Feiwel and Friends published a paperback edition in the United States. This study guide is based on the Kindle edition of the paperback.

A poet, playwright, and novelist, Morpurgo is most noted for his many award-winning contributions to children’s literature; in recognition of his body of work, he was chosen as the United Kingdom’s Children’s Laureate for 2003 to 2005. An Elephant in the Garden illustrates Morpurgo’s understanding of and empathy for children, depicting how the firebombing of Dresden upends the lives of Morpurgo’s young characters. The novel develops themes regarding the loss of childhood innocence while coming of age, the terrible consequences of war, and the true meaning of family.

Content Warning: This guide contains references to wartime violence and antisemitism.

Plot Summary

The novel begins in February 2011 at a nursing home in Niagara-on-the-Lake, a town in Ontario, Canada (the specific physical setting is not identified until the end of the novel, and the month and year are established through various textual details).