You're listening to the London Review of Books podcast. This episode, a conversation between

Catherine Rundle and Alice Spalls, is a recording of a recent event at the London Review Bookshop. Catherine Rundle and Alice Spalls is a recording of a recent event at the London Review

Bookshop. Catherine Rundle has just won the Bailey Gifford Prize for her biography of John Dunn, Super Infinite.

But here she's talking to Alice Spalls, co-editor of the LRB, about her latest book, The Golden Moll and Other Living Treasure,

a bestiary of endangered animals that began as a series of

pieces in the London Review of Books.

Thank you. I thought for, well, both for readers of Kate's pieces in the LLB and for people who

perhaps don't know them yet, we could start with a piece that's new to the collection,

so a treat for everyone. And Kate's going to tell us a little bit about the elephant,

our favourite packaderm.

Wonderful. Thank you all so much for coming. I won't read the whole thing because it's a little bit longer,

but I'll just read the beginning. In 1870, the Prussian army laid siege to Paris. Its defences were

formidable, so rather than fighting, the Prussians, led by Wilhelm I, chose to ring the city round

with a blockade and starve its people into submission. The hunger made Parisians both desperate and inventive. A rat,

smoked and dressed with spices, could fetch two francs while a cat might be worth twelve.

A luxury grocer, owner of the Boucherie-Anglese on the boulevard houseman, approached the zoo,

his eye on the two male elephants. A deal was struck.

For 27,000 francs, Pollux and Castor were sold. Because nobody had experience in slaughtering

elephants, a marksman was hired to shoot them with steel-tipped explosive bullets.

They were skinned and sold at staggering prices to Paris's richest citizens.

Henri Le Boucher, oh, wait, he's English.

Henry, Le Boucher, an English politician and theatre owner

...