The Rhino Keeper audiobook, narrated by Caroline Hewitt, is coming February 14, 2025. Join “Clara’s Companions” to be first in line for this incredible adventure!
Available Now!
The Rhino Keeper
A novel based on the remarkable true story of a rhino who dazzled 18th-century Europe and the keeper who loved her.
By Jillian Forsberg
Based on the true story of a Dutch sea captain who traveled with an Indian rhinoceros called Clara across 18th century Europe, THE RHINO KEEPER evokes both the thrill of discovery in the archives and the wonder felt by a world in which no European had seen a living rhinoceros.
2022 – College student Andrea Clarkson uncovers a historical mystery while studying abroad in Holland. From hidden desk drawers come unusual historical documents featuring a rhinoceros. On a lichen-covered eighteenth-century grave, the same animal is carved. When an expanding river forces exhumation, what she finds buried there is life-changing. Andrea faces her nightmares to retrieve what a grave robber steals: valuable proof of a long-forgotten history.
1740 – Ship captain Douwemout van der Meer has something not seen in two hundred years: the only rhino in Europe, called Clara. Douwemout and Clara tour Europe, enthralling peasants and queens, hoping to change popular views that rhinos are man-eating beasts. Absolute wonder follows, but when a priest sees idol worship and becomes hell-bent on destroying her, Clara, Douwe, and the lives of her bonded caretakers are at risk.
As Douwe becomes protectively dedicated to adventuring with Clara, unexpected love finds him, and his heart starts to tear. Will he choose a life with a traveling wonder-beast forever, or can love exist in many forms for the rhino keeper?
Advance Praise
“They must have been bonded. And so begins the harrowing, heart-wrenching tale of a man and his beloved rhinoceros, Clara. Inspired by real-life events, The Rhino Keeper by debut novelist Jillian Forsberg illuminates the extraordinary connection between humans and animals. Spanning two centuries, The Rhino Keeper is both a historical mystery and a tale of old-world adventure, reminding us that even the wishes we take to our grave may someday come true after all.”
– Sarah Penner, NYT Bestselling Author of The Lost Apothecary and The London Séance Society
"An absorbing delight from start to finish, The Rhino Keeper deftly weaves a very modern tale of a young historian who makes a life-changing discovery with the true story of an eighteenth-century Dutch sea captain who toured Europe with a fully-grown female Indian rhinoceros called Clara. Readers will be pulling for the central characters, past and present, as we follow in Clara’s outsize footsteps to discover her history and final fate. Jillian Forsberg is deeply engaged in this remarkable story and, after reading The Rhino Keeper, you will be, too.”
–Glynis Ridley, author of Clara’s Grand Tour: Travels with a Rhinoceros in Eighteenth-Century Europe
"The Rhino Keeper will fascinate, enchant, and steal your heart as you follow Clara's wondrous journey from the tropics of India to the sparkling courts of Europe alongside her devoted human companions. Poignant and tender, this impeccably researched novel marks Forsberg as a writer to watch. A captivating debut you'll never forget."
–Paulette Kennedy, bestselling author of The Witch of Tin Mountain
“A charming page turner perfect for animal and history lovers alike.”
–Diana Giovinazzo, author of Antoinette’s Sister
"Rich with adventure, historical detail, and love of all kinds, THE RHINO KEEPER is an enchanting true story. Jillian Forsberg brings Clara the rhinoceros and the humans who cared for her to vivid life, deftly interlacing the dual timelines to create a poignant tale that spans both continents and centuries. Just as the 18th century Europeans who flocked to meet Clara could not help but be changed by knowing her, readers of Forsberg's accomplished debut will find their hearts expanded with each page they turn."
– Molly Greeley, author of MARVELOUS
“Jillian Forsberg has crafted a masterful tale of mystery, love, and the magic of discovery. The Rhino Keeper explores the deep relationships that are possible between humans and the animals who choose them. Forsberg takes a compassionate look at the history of mid-18th century Europe’s only living rhinoceros and the people who loved and protected her, while simultaneously weaving in a modern-day story of how greed can infiltrate everything from wildlife conservation to archaeology. She adeptly intertwines an 18th century adventure that spans two continents into a 21st century story of a woman’s self-discovery—and does it so seamlessly that the story flows without feeling interrupted. And how can anyone resist a tale about a rhinoceros named Clara and the salty seaman who loves her?”
– Elizabeth R. Andersen, author of The Alewives
“Filled with the thrill of discovery and resonant with the special bond between man and animal, The Rhino Keeper is an unusual delight that will enrapture fans of historical fiction. Jillian Forsberg makes a strong debut with this unforgettable tale!”
– Olivia Hawker, bestselling author of One for the Blackbird, One for the Crow
Photo Credit: Kay + Bee
Jillian Forsberg is a historian and author with a master’s degree in public history from Wichita State University. Her research on little-known historical events led her to discover the true story behind her first novel, The Rhino Keeper. In addition to being the former editor for Wichita State’s The Fairmont Folio, Jillian is an essayist whose articles have been published in academic journals. With a passion for 18th-century history, Jillian can also be found gardening, exploring antique malls, or reading every label at a museum. Vintage dresses are Jillian's clothing of choice, except when she's at the zoo. She lives in Wichita, Kansas, with her husband, child, and pets. Her second novel, The Porcelain Menagerie, is forthcoming from History Through Fiction on October 21, 2025.