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The Pawprints of History: Dogs and the Course of Human Events (Hardcover)

by Stanley Coren (Author) "HOW MANY TIMES has the fate of a man, or even a nation, hung from the collar of a dog? ..." (more)

4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)

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Product Details

Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Free Press (April 9 2002)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0743222288
ISBN-13: 978-0743222280
Product Dimensions: 24.3 x 16.3 x 2.6 cm
Shipping Weight: 540 g

Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)

Amazon.ca Sales Rank: #471,870 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Product Description

From Publishers Weekly

Spiced with wit and mellowed with charm, Coren's anecdote-laden survey of canine-human interspecies history is a solid read. From stories about the diminutive 18th-century intellectual poet Alexander Pope and his protective Great Dane, Bounce, to Teddy Roosevelt's mixed breed, horseback-riding companion, Skip, Coren (How to Speak Dog) deftly draws the reader into both literary salons and political realms alike. The book ranges from ancient Egypt and medieval Japan to 19th-century Vienna and 21st-century Washington, D.C. Here are dogs of every breed as well as their owners, who include emperors, scoundrels, saints and artists: a Newfoundland named Robber offered Richard Wagner company while he was in Paris completing Rienzi and The Flying Dutchman. Coren recounts stirring sagas of dog heroism in everyday life as well as in wartime, from antiquity to the modern era (the Spanish conquistadors fortified their military with dogs, and "the cruellest of the Spanish leaders would use the dogs as a means of public execution. This was known as `dogging' "). The tales are well told and thoughtfully constructed, nicely balanced with solid historical research. Each chapter works nicely as a self-contained essay, and these vignettes build to tell an informative and entertaining story of canine camaraderie. Illus. not seen by PW.

From Booklist

Humans and canines have been living together for about 14,000 years. That's amazing enough, but Coren and Bartlett take it one step further, showing that the world we live in today might have been a very different place if it hadn't been for a few dogs in the right place at the right time. Take Napoleon, for instance. He hated dogs, but one day in 1815, as he was sailing away from the island of Elba, he fell into the icy water and probably would have drowned except for a plucky Newfoundland dog that plunged into the water and rescued him. Napoleon, of course, went on to reclaim his throne and wage bloody war against the British at Waterloo. This delightful chronicle offers a rich and surprising cavalcade of canines who touched the lives of such famous people as Richard Wagner, Alexander Pope, Alexander Graham Bell, Frederick the Great, and Sigmund Freud. These engaging, even touching stories will be a real treat for dog lovers, history buffs, and trivia addicts. David Pitt
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Inside This Book (Learn More)

First Sentence
HOW MANY TIMES has the fate of a man, or even a nation, hung from the collar of a dog? Read the first page

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Customer Reviews

6 Reviews

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Average Customer Review

4.5 out of 5 stars (6 customer reviews)

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5.0 out of 5 stars A charming view of some wonderful friendships, Feb 12 2004

By	Brad4d "bb" (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Pawprints of History: Dogs and the Course of Human Events (Paperback)

This interesting book discusses the relationships between several noteable people and their dogs. At least one cynical Washington D.C. politician said that "if you want someone to love you in this town, buy a dog," and you will find he was not the first one to conjure up that thought. The author shows how people such as Florence Nightingale, Frederick the Great, Robert Burns, and Sigmund Freud were all warmly touched by the positive side of their dogs. These people, who somehow seemed so intensely boring in History class, never seemed so human as when interacting with their dogs. Dogs have served as companions for many others who needed a consistent friend, and they often served as inspirations for those who enriched our artistic and aesthetic lives (perhaps because they were so cheerful and so honest). Oh, by the way, the author gives us some pretty interesting lessons in history and the arts, too, so this story is not just about the canids. If you are looking for a good book to curl up with, and read to, your animal companions, give this one a try.

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3.0 out of 5 stars Eh., Jul 10 2003

By	lisa bernard "wordgirrl" (Pittsburgh, PA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Entertaining anecdotes, but not really what it promises. It's more a collection of famous people and their beloved dogs with a few notes (some of them are real stretches) about how the author believes the dogs might have affected them. Not particularly convincing, but sweet.

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5.0 out of 5 stars My Reveiw, Jun 15 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Pawprints of History: Dogs and the Course of Human Events (Paperback)

I liked this book a lot. I have learned many things from it. It has very interesting facts.

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Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars terrific book
I can't remember when I enjoyed a book more. It was insightful, fascinating, and difficult to put down. Read more

Published on May 1 2003

4.0 out of 5 stars Because of a Dog
Our intensely personal feelings for our dogs often result in sincere but maudlin attempts to articulate their importance. Read more