Jonathan Mirsky

Pet obsession

I declare two interests. I own a dog, Lily, and I admire the New York Review of Books. What could go wrong?

I declare two interests. I own a dog, Lily, and I admire the New York Review of Books. What could go wrong? Especially because, according to the enthusiastic introduction, back in 1999, by Elizabeth Marshall Thomas, My Dog Tulip won golden opinions from its first publication in 1956, notably from Julian Huxley and E. M. Forster. (I must say I saw Forster almost daily in 1954—1955 during his short walks at Kings College, Cambridge and he didn’t have a dog.) As Thomas wrote, here is the memoir of an unremarkable, badly behaved dog that adored her master, who loved her in return.

A ‘man of letters’, as they used to say, and a bachelor, Ackerley was a veteran of the Great War, scornful of women, with a timid maiden cousin with whom he sometimes stayed. Friendless, at least in this book, he visited local pubs and nodded to people he met.

When she was 18 months old, Ackerley acquired Tulip, a beautiful young Alsatian bitch from a previous uncaring owner, we are led to believe, and they settled down in his flat near the river in London. Like most first-time dog owners he is like a first-time parent, endlessly worrying and fidgeting about Tulip’s behaviour and health — is she normal, what is normal, is she seriously ill? She panics whenever she is taken for a check-up or treatment, until they visit a sensible woman vet who tells Ackerley:

‘Tulip’s a good girl. I saw that at once. You’re the trouble.’

‘Do tell me.’

‘Well, she’s in love with you, that’s obvious. And so life is full of worries for her. That’s why she’s so upset when people approach you.’

This is all pleasant enough, and one settles down to read about a man and his dog.

Already a subscriber? Log in

Keep reading with a free trial

Subscribe and get your first month of online and app access for free. After that it’s just £1 a week.

There’s no commitment, you can cancel any time.

Or

Unlock more articles

REGISTER

Comments

Don't miss out

Join the conversation with other Spectator readers. Subscribe to leave a comment.

Already a subscriber? Log in