The Pug Who Bit Napoleon: Animal Tales of the 18th and 19th Centuries
Author:
Genres: History, Science & Math
Book Type: Paperback
Author:
Genres: History, Science & Math
Book Type: Paperback
These stories about dogs, cats, horses, and other animals, are the results of Mimi Matthew's research into favored animals of the 18th and 19th centuries. The surprise was the photos of famous artists. In addition, many canvases were of the animal in the story. It was surprising to see how different dogs looked compared to the same breeds today. This is one of those books that one keeps on the night table and reads when too restless to sleep. The story of the flea circus of earlier days was quite diverting.
This book tells how Pekingese dogs were imported to England after the British attacked the Summer Palace (during the second Opium War) and stole five palace dogs. It was forbidden to export these animals, and they were called Little Lion Dogs of China or a Chinese Sleeve Dog. Then, there is the fascinating story of the first cat show, which took place in the Crystal Palace in 1871. The organizers couldn't find enough cats, so workers brought their cats from home to fill up the cages. The exposition was such a massive hit that cat shows appeared in many other countries.
In Victorian times, spinster ladies with their cats were a common source of amusement in newspapers. However, the Victorians took pet funerals to a new level, causing amusement, consternation, and even scorn. The anger of having pets interred in human cemeteries, with all the gravity of a Christian funeral, caused the creation of pet cemeteries by 1881.
However, my favorite of the whole bunch was the fantastic story of the killer shark in the Thames. When they cut him open, they found a watch and other items. They traced the watch to the son who went on his first trip as a sailor and was thrown overboard two years before. The father bought the shark as a memorial to his son. The whole story was unique.
This book tells how Pekingese dogs were imported to England after the British attacked the Summer Palace (during the second Opium War) and stole five palace dogs. It was forbidden to export these animals, and they were called Little Lion Dogs of China or a Chinese Sleeve Dog. Then, there is the fascinating story of the first cat show, which took place in the Crystal Palace in 1871. The organizers couldn't find enough cats, so workers brought their cats from home to fill up the cages. The exposition was such a massive hit that cat shows appeared in many other countries.
In Victorian times, spinster ladies with their cats were a common source of amusement in newspapers. However, the Victorians took pet funerals to a new level, causing amusement, consternation, and even scorn. The anger of having pets interred in human cemeteries, with all the gravity of a Christian funeral, caused the creation of pet cemeteries by 1881.
However, my favorite of the whole bunch was the fantastic story of the killer shark in the Thames. When they cut him open, they found a watch and other items. They traced the watch to the son who went on his first trip as a sailor and was thrown overboard two years before. The father bought the shark as a memorial to his son. The whole story was unique.
