And a Dog Called Fig is an insightful and meditative exploration of the writer's life and the role dogs play in it, from award-winning author Helen Humphreys.
An artist's solitude is a sacred space, one to be guarded and kept apart from the chaos of the world. But in the artist's quiet there is also loneliness, self-doubt, the possibility of collapsing too far inward.
What an artist needs is a familiar, a creature perfectly suited to accompany them on this coveted, difficult journey. They need a companion with emotional intelligence, innate curiosity, passion, energy, and an enthusiasm for the world beyond, but also the capacity to sleep contentedly for many hours. What an artist needs, Helen Humphreys would say, is a dog.
This brilliant memoir of the writing life is told through thedogs Humphreys has lived with and loved over a lifetime, touching on themes of connection, solitude, friendship and the creative process, and culminating with the arrival of a new puppy, Fig.
A love song to the dogs who come into our lives, and all that they bring-sorrow, mayhem, meditation, joy-this is a book about companionship and loss, creativity and the writer's craft, filled with the beauty of a steadfast canine friend and the restorative powers of nature.
Interspersed are stories of other writers and their irreplaceable companions: Virginia Woolf and Grizzle, Gertrude Stein and Basket, Thomas Hardy and Wessex-the dog who walked the dining table at dinner parties, taking whatever he liked-and many more.
Just as every work of art is different, every dog is different-with distinctive needs and lessons to offer. If we let them guide us, they, like art, will show us many worlds we would otherwise miss.
Autorentext
HELEN HUMPHREYS is the author of four books of poetry and five novels, including Leaving Earth, which was a New York Times notable book, and, most recently, The Reinvention of Love. Born in Britain she now lives in Kingston, Canada.
Klappentext
And a Dog Called Fig is the story of one writer's life with dogs-including a frisky new puppy, how they are uniquely ideal companions for building a creative life, and a sprinkling of delightful tales about dogs with famous writer pals
Into the writer's isolation comes a dog, to sit beside the chair or to lie on the couch while the writer works, to force them outside for a walk, and suddenly, although still lonely, the writer has a companion.
An artist's solitude is a sacred space, one to be guarded and kept apart from the chaos of the world. This isolation allows for uninhibited wandering, uninterrupted meditation, and the nurturing of sparks of inspiration into fires of creation. But in the artist's quiet there is also loneliness, self-doubt, the possibility of collapsing too far inward.
What an artist needs is a familiar, a creature perfectly suited to accompany them on this coveted, difficult journey. They need a companion with emotional intelligence, innate curiosity, passion, energy, and an enthusiasm for the world beyond, but also the capacity to sleep contentedly for many hours. What an artist needs, Helen Humphreys would say, is a dog.
And a Dog Called Fig is a memoir of the writing life told through the dogs Humphreys has lived with and loved over a lifetime, culminating with the recent arrival and settling in of Fig, a Vizsla puppy. Interspersed are stories of other writers and their irreplaceable companions: Virginia Woolf and Grizzle, Gertrude Stein and Basket, Thomas Hardy and Wessex-the dog who walked the dining table at dinner parties, taking whatever he liked-and many more.
A love song to the dogs who come into our lives, and all that they bring-sorrow, mayhem, meditation, joy-this is a book about companionship and loss, creativity and the writer's craft, filled with the beauty of a steadfast canine friend and the restorative powers of nature. Just as every work of art is different, every dog is different-with distinctive needs and lessons to offer. If we let them guide us, they, like art, will show us many worlds we would otherwise miss.
Includes Black-and-White Photographs