{"product_id":"obaysch-by-professor-john-simons-9781743325865","title":"Obaysch","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eObaysch: A Hippopotamus in Victorian London\u003c\/i\u003e is the story of Obaysch the hippopotamus, the first 'star' animal to be exhibited in the London Zoo. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn 1850, a baby hippopotamus arrived on English shores, allegedly the first in Europe since the Roman Empire, and almost certainly the first in Europe since prehistoric times. Captured near an island from which he took his name, Obaysch was donated by the viceroy of Egypt in exchange for greyhounds and deerhounds. His arrival was greeted with a wave of 'Hippomania', doubling the number of visitors to the zoo.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eUncovering the circumstances of Obaysch's capture and exhibition, John Simons investigates the notion of a 'star' animal, as well as the cultural value that Obaysch, and the other hippos who joined him over the following few years, accumulated. This book also delves into the historical context of Obaysch and his audience, considering the relationship between Victorian attitudes to hippopotami and the expansion of the British Empire into sub-Saharan Africa.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e'Obaysch: A Hippopotamus in Victorian London\u003c\/i\u003e is a fine example of how an academic book can work for a general readership...it is over and above an accessible, intelligent, charming, sometimes funny, sometimes sad account of Obaysch.' - Stephen Romei, \u003ci\u003eThe Australian\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47362937028844,"sku":"9781743325865","price":39.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/19160333482808.jpg?v=1772904536","url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/products\/obaysch-by-professor-john-simons-9781743325865","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}