If you can read this, thank a teacher.

The story unfolds with a prologue that portends what happens in the story. The band in the circus was playing the Disaster March. There was a mad melee, the animal menagerie was lose.  Using a first person point of view, Jacob narrates his story from alternating ages, first as a twenty three year old and then from a ninety three year old living in a retirement home.

Jacob Jankowski, the main character in Water for Elephants has some likeness to the biblical Jacob, firstborn son of Isaac. In Genesis, (32:22) the biblical Jacob becomes “Israel” after his wrestling match with God. Jacob asks for the God’s blessing and gets it. Jacob becomes the father of the first thirteen tribes of Israel. He was blessed with prodigious wealth and he was a caretaker to his flock, mainly animals and livestock. The main character in the novel was kindly towards animals, he also had a long prodigious life with the circus during the 1930’s in the Chicago area. Jacob Jankowski in the story, was a final exam shy away from a veterinarian’s degree from Cornell University. His parents were killed and he was left homeless. He found himself traveling with the Benzini Brothers’ flying Squadron, a train car of circus performers and workers. He became the appointed veterinarian of the circus.

In the circus during the Depression, he bunks with Walter “Kinko”, a midget performer. He and the miscreant eventually harbors and takes care of Camel, an elderly circus worker who becomes old and paralyzed, a throwaway employee because he was no longer useful to the circus. Jacob is drawn to Marlena, the equestrian-performer and wife to the cruel animal trainer August. Marlena is equally drawn to him. At first, August is kindly towards Jacob, giving him favors and invitations to dine in the fancier cars where the accommodations were luxurious, unlike the decrepit quarters and conditions that the rest of performers and the workers were housed in. Even the animals were subjected to inhumane conditions, being fed from goat stock and animal entrails that are on the verge of spoilage. Circus owners who are on the verge of bankruptcy were often salvaged by competing shows. Like vultures hovering around a near dying animal,  shows purchase menageries and lure performers like fat ladies, Siamese twins, and all sorts of odd, deformed human and animal attractions. The Benzini Brothers purchased a menagerie of animals that included Rosie, a bull elephant. She was first considered dumb and worthless until Jacob discovered she responded to commands only her in her native tongue, Polish. Rosie and Marlena performed successfully and became a hit show. Rosie is treated badly by her trainer August.

Jacob however, makes sure that the menagerie is cared for, much to the pride and delight of Uncle Al. Jacob gets Marlena pregnant as they carry on an illicit love affair. Kinko and Camel get redlighted. During the Depression, resources were tight and all workers who did not contribute to the circus were expended. August becomes paranoid and hits Marlena, he becomes increasingly cruel to everyone including the animals. In the succeeding events, the circus starts to fall apart.

In the melee that occurs, a stampede ruins the performance and August perishes. Uncle Al is also found dead underneath a collapsed tent. The circus is dismantled but Jacob and Marlena refused to part with their menagerie, including Rosie whom they were very fond of. They join the Ringling Brothers Circus and become successful performers.

Jacob recollects his youth in the circus, this is prompted by his is eagerness to watch a circus performance that happens to be passing through. Simon, one of his sons, forgets to visit him on the day of the show but Jacob manages to go by himself in spite of his feebleness and being wheelchair bound. In the end, he rejoins the circus through some force of circumstance and extraordinary fortune.