Dogs as hunters, fighters, companions and helpers – all feature in this compendium of 100 dogs famous and otherwise. There are dogs in fact - revealing some little-known stories of bravery and love and dogs from fiction too – the infamous Hound of the Baskervilles to Bullseye from Oliver Twist and - I was glad to see - Timmy from Enid Blyton's Famous Five gets a mention too. The addition of copious illustrations from woodcuts to drawings and paintings as well as numerous photographs make this a dog-lovers delight. ~ Sue Baker
'Dogs have always been by our side, working with and comforting us through times of both peace and war. This new book by historian and dog lover Emma White illustrates the many roles dogs have played in shaping our nation’s history, from famous breeds and royal pets to scrappy heroes and loveable mutts.' ~ Sophie Bradshaw,The History Press
As the ultimate dog-loving nation, our history is inextricably entwined with that of our dogs. Through history they have sniffed, rolled, shaken and pawed their way to our hearts, and behind almost every great Briton is a faithful hound.
This beautifully illustrated book tells the story of Britain from Roman times to the present and looks at our native British breeds and the extraordinary roles they played in society, from providing entertainment to herding livestock to guiding the visually impaired. Dogs have fought with us in war, searched for us in trouble, aided us in industry and offered companionship with no reward. They crop up in almost every aspect of history, and offer a fascinating insight into the shaping of our nation.
Emma White completed a masters degree in British First World War studies at the University of Birmingham and is now studying for her PhD in the use of dogs in the First World War at the University of Chichester. She was project manager for the Great War West Sussex project, and has previously worked in two Greater London archives.