This book surveys a wide range of elephant lore in Thailand, past and present. Early Thai writings, both sacred and secular, centuries-old European travelers’ tales, and more recent diplomatic correspondence with the West concerning the role of the elephant in Thai life are touched upon, providing an interesting historical perspective. Also explained are the religious, artistic, and literary backgrounds underpinning Thai attitudes to elephants, both real and mythical. The elephants of present-day Thailand are described: as the rarely glimpsed wild herds, as “students” in the unique elephant training school, as workers in forests, or as participants in the great annual round-up at Surin.