I had high hopes that I'd enjoy this book given Thurber's reputation and the topic. However it's sadly disappointing as the content has, ahem, not aged well, as a consequence it took me a long time to finish it. There is a great deal of casual misogyny, some outright racism and quite a lot what today we'd call animal cruelty presented as humour. Perhaps best read as an insight into a not-so-long-gone mindset - or not read at all. ( )

hardback

A collection of essays, short stories, and cartoons. This anthology focuses on the canines in the writer's life. His essay on his poodle, Lucy, is quite touching. ( )

I love this collection which moves among essays, short stories, fable and cartoons. Great book if you love Thurber's dogs or are just meeting them for the first time. ( )

Being short essays, my rating wavered between 2 and 4 stars for this. I started reading with great anticipation, largely because the back cover author bio is pure genius and rates 5 stars, hands-down. If there were 6 to give, it would get them. The stories don't hold up so well in comparison, particularly the first few. The standard improves, and some are really good, but overall it was rather a let down. ( )