Dogs and Monsters

This is a new book. Condition: Brand New.

From the bestselling author of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time come eight mesmerising stories moving between Greek myth and the near future to explore how we treat animals - and each other

From the bestselling author of The Porpoise come eight mesmerising stories exploring what, ultimately, makes us human.

Mark Haddon weaves ancient fables into fresh and unexpected forms, and forges new legends to sit alongside them. The myth of the Minotaur in his labyrinth is turned into a wrenching parable of maternal love - and of the monstrosities of patriarchy. The lover of a goddess, Tithonus, is gifted eternal life but without eternal youth. Actaeon, changed into a stag after glimpsing the naked Diana and torn to pieces by his hunting dogs, becomes a visceral metaphor about how humans use and misuse animals.

From genetic engineering to the eternal complications of family, Haddon showcases masterfully how we are subject to the same elemental forces that obsessed the Greeks. Whether describing Laika the Soviet space dog on her fateful orbit, or St Anthony wrestling with loneliness in the desert, his astonishing powers of observation are at their height when illuminating the thin line between human and animal.

Book details and technical specifications

Format: Paperback / softback
ISBN13: 9781784745561
Published: August 2024

Number of pages: 288
Width: 153 mm
Height: 234 mm
Depth: 22 mm

Publisher: Vintage Publishing