In 1551, King João III of Portugal decides to gift an Indian elephant named Solomon to his cousin, Archduke Maximilian of Austria. This decision sparks an epic and often absurd journey across the continent. Led by his keeper, Subhro, Solomon travels from Lisbon to Vienna, traversing mountains, plains, and the complexities of human society. Saramago masterfully weaves a tale that is both a historical adventure and a profound meditation on humanity, language, and the arbitrary nature of history itself, all told with his signature wit and unique narrative voice.