Do you love your dog? Then this book is for you. Inspired by the author's love affair with her overweight French bulldog Grisby, prepare to discover a pack of the greatest canine personalities ever. Through many barking tales, not to mention obsessional love, here is a celebration of man's special bond with dog. Structured like a leisurely stroll in the park, you will meet exceptional dogs in these pages: from 'Atma' the name given by philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer to his succession of Standard poodles, to Frida Kahlo's hairless Mexican dog Xolotl, to Zemire the adored Italian greyhound of Catherine the Great. We meet Picasso's dachshund Lump; Freud's chow Yofi; Bill Sikes's mutt Bull's Eye in Oliver Twist; and Elizabeth Barrett Browning's spaniel Flush, whose biography was penned by Virginia Woolf. There are royal dogs, such as Prince Albert's greyhound Eos, and dogs cherished by authors, like Thomas Hardy's fox terrier, Wessex; and many many more. As Brottman ruminates on her relationship with Grisby, she draws support and inspiration from history, art, philosophy and literature. Although the book ranges over different times and places, it reveals that exceptional dogs often share character traits, the most common of which is miraculous loyalty.
It also shows how much dogs have to teach us about empathy, happiness, love and what it means to be human. Through quirky anecdotes and personal reflections, with side-trips into psychoanalysis and animal studies, this wonderful book for doglovers everywhere shows us the many ways in which dog is the mirror of man. No dog lover will be able to resist. Gold title * An A-Z of exceptional dogs in literature and history. Wise, warm, full of insight - a book which will be adored by dog lovers everywhere. * The perfect gift for dog and book lovers. * John Bradshaw's In Defence of Dogs has sold 18k HBs and 43k PBs through UK tcm. * A book inspired by the author's unconditional love for her overweight French bulldog Grisby.
Will resonate with anyone who has a devoted relationship with a dog. * The Great Grisby contain a series of black-and-white sketches at the beginning of every chapter, each featuring a different dog and its owner. Drawn by the enormously talented Davina "Psamophis" Falcão, these images serve to reinforce the emotional connection between reader and content.