First published 2009
Anthony Bourke and John Rendall walk into Harrods department store in 1969 London and make an extraordinary purchase: a lion cub they name Christian. The young men face the immediate challenge of raising a wild animal in their Chelsea flat above a furniture shop. Christian grows rapidly from a playful cub into a powerful predator, creating mounting tension between their love for him and the reality of his nature. Neighbors complain, authorities threaten intervention, and the lion's size makes their living situation increasingly dangerous. Bourke and Rendall must confront an impossible choice: keep Christian confined in an urban environment where he cannot thrive, or find a way to return him to the wild where he belongs. Their decision leads to a journey to Kenya and a partnership with conservationist George Adamson. The story captures the deep bond between humans and animals, the conflict between love and responsibility, and the courage required to let go of what you cherish most.
Genres: animals, friendship, 20th-century, adventure, biography-memoir, 21st-century, conservation, africa
Vibes: emotional-atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Chelsea, Harrods, Kenya, London
Period: 1969
176 pages · Hardcover · PLAZA & JANES