Autobiography of Matthew Scott, Jumbo's Keeper; Also Jumbo's Biography, by the same Author

A vivid memoir of a nineteenth‑century naturalist, this narrative follows a humble English youth who rises from a modest family on the Derby estate to become the devoted caretaker of some of the world’s most extraordinary beasts. Through candid recollections, he shares the daily challenges and quiet triumphs of feeding, training, and bonding with exotic animals, most famously a towering elephant known simply as Jumbo. His voice is warm and straightforward, offering insight into the Victorian menagerie world and the deep respect he felt for both the creatures and the people who welcomed him across Britain and America.

Interwoven with his own life story, the book also presents a gentle biography of Jumbo, tracing the giant’s arrival in the zoo, his spectacular growth, and the bond that turned keeper and animal into inseparable companions. Readers will appreciate the author’s heartfelt gratitude to the societies and audiences that supported his work, and the vivid portrait of a life spent among the kingdom of beasts and birds.