Set in a brilliantly imagined world of political intrigue, sorcery, and warfare on an epic scale, two people--the beautiful Lady Isola who is kidnapped by the infamous Beauceron and young Arren who is destined to become a knight of valor and renown at Lord Thaume's court--struggle to adapt to their new lives as Beauceron raises and army to capture the capital city of Mondia.
Jim Thorne, a sergeant in the Northwest Mounted Police, is sent on assignment to a backwoods post where he hears rumors of Silver Chief, the wild offspring of a Siberian huskie and a wolf, which is destined to become Thorne's best friend.
Winter on the lawless plains of the Emmenrule. En route to her wedding in the fortified city of Croad, the beautiful Lady Isola is kidnapped. What is worse, her captor is the infamous Beauceron. But, ruthless as he may be, Beauceron is no ordinary brigand: it is his life's ambition to capture Croad itself – and he will stop at nothing to achieve it. Mondia, though, is a continent of many stories, and in Croad, a young man named Arren has been taken under the wing of the city's ruler, Lord Thaume. Although of low birth, Arren is destined to become a knight of valour and renown. But as his fortunes rise, so those of his childhood friend Eilla fall. Beauceron has returned with his human plunder to his home – the exquisite frozen city of Mettingloom. There, the imperious Isola finds herself reassessing her former loyalties as she struggles to adapt to her new life. Beauceron, meanwhile, is manoeuvring to raise an army. He is determined to defeat his enemies, both inside and outside Mettingloom – and to capture the city he loathes. But what is the source of Beauceron’s obsession with Croad? Can Arren reconcile his youthful ambitions with his growing feelings for Eilla? And just who is the Dog of the North? Tim Stretton’s debut novel is a spellbinding tale of loyalty and betrayal, homeland and exile, set in a brilliantly imagined world of political intrigue, sorcery, and warfare on an epic scale.
* A New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice * “A vibrant novel that combines slapstickcomedy with poignancy.” —The New Yorker Penny Rush has problems. Her marriage is over; she’s quit her job. Her mother and stepfather went missing in the Australian outback five years ago; her mentally unbalanced father provokes her; her grandmother Dr. Pincer keeps experiments in the refrigerator and something worse in the woodshed. But Penny is a virtuoso at what’s possible when all else fails. Elizabeth McKenzie, the National Book Award–nominated author of The Portable Veblen, follows Penny on her quest for a fresh start. There will be a road trip in the Dog of the North, an old van with gingham curtains, a piñata, and stiff brakes. There will be injury and peril. There will be a dog named Kweecoats and two brothers who may share a toupee. There will be questions: Why is a detective investigating her grandmother. What is “the Scintillator”? And can Penny recognize a good thing when it finally comes her way? This slyly humorous, thoroughly winsome novel finds the purpose in life’s curveballs, insisting that even when we are painfully warped by those we love most, we can be brought closer to our truest selves.
The Northern, Nordic and Spitz breeds are truly representatives of the most beautiful dogs in the world. Their elegance commands attention, their stature commands respect and their appearance is breathtaking. Simply looking into their eyes reveals a vibrant intellect and spirited life-force that is as enduring as nature itself. This is the story of how Northern Breeds branched away from their wild ancestors and forged a lasting bond with mankind. The most fascinating part of the story is the fact that the breeds of dogs in the world today are descended from original genome of the primitive Northern Breeds by becoming trusted partners that specialized in helping mankind survive by herding, hunting, pulling sleds, guarding and providing companionship. The development of the primitive Northern Breeds was more than thirty thousand years in the making. They held the keys to not only surviving, but adapting to continual change and in so doing, established the master imprint and the genetic survival kit that became the tame domesticated dog. Today's modern dog breeds owe their existence to the noble and capable Northern Breed dogs who bridged the gap between a harsh and solitary life in the wild and applying their talents to provide service to mankind. The way we relate to our dogs is framed by the dogs we've encountered and held close in our past. And our character is shaped by many defining moments in our past and it is tendered by love and our hopes, dreams and aspirations. We are also shaped by our ancestors and the genetics we inherited from them. Similar principles hold true for dogs. We cannot fully comprehend the true nature of the dogs we love until we understand their spirit, their nature and their character, which is woven from the very same fabric and genetics of the Northern Breeds. We never realized how many varieties were locked away inside of their genome until we brought them into our homes and our hearts. This book is an essential guide that helps us understand the ancestral journey our dogs have made as well as providing the keys to unlock, understand appreciate their true nature. The dog genome map and inheritance patterns have provided corrections and additions to the historical story started by archaeology. The inheritance of health strengths and weaknesses provides a glimpse into the future of dog breeding. Also woven into the saga are many age old mysteries such as, "What does Spitz mean?" and "Where did certain behaviors (or instincts) come from?" and "Did dogs descend directly from the Wolf?" and "Is there a gene for white color?" and "Where did Toy size dogs come from?" and more are explored and explained.
* A New Yorker Best Book of the Year * A New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice * Nominated for the Women’s Prize for Fiction * “I’m in love with a grieving misfit driving around with a donkey-shaped piñata in an old van held together by duct tape…the great miracle of McKenzie’s writing… is how she manages to transform misery into gentle humor…darkly hilarious.” —The Washington Post “An addictive read with an ultimately hopeful core that recalls Haruki Murakami, Sayaka Murata, Richard Brautigan, and Miranda July” – Sanjena Sathian, author of Gold Diggers Penny Rush has problems. Her marriage is over; she’s quit her job. Her mother and stepfather went missing in the Australian outback five years ago; her mentally unbalanced father provokes her; her grandmother Dr. Pincer keeps experiments in the refrigerator and something worse in the woodshed. But Penny is a virtuoso at what’s possible when all else fails. Elizabeth McKenzie, the National Book Award–nominated author of The Portable Veblen, follows Penny on her quest for a fresh start. There will be a road trip in the Dog of the North, an old van with gingham curtains, a piñata, and stiff brakes. There will be injury and peril. There will be a dog named Kweecoats and two brothers who may share a toupee. There will be questions: Why is a detective investigating her grandmother, and what is “the scintillator”? And can Penny recognize a good thing when it finally comes her way? This slyly humorous, thoroughly winsome novel finds the purpose in life’s curveballs, insisting that even when we are painfully warped by those we love most, we can be brought closer to our truest selves.
"Dogs of all nations" by Walter Esplin Mason. Published by Good Press. Good Press publishes a wide range of titles that encompasses every genre. From well-known classics & literary fiction and non-fiction to forgotten−or yet undiscovered gems−of world literature, we issue the books that need to be read. Each Good Press edition has been meticulously edited and formatted to boost readability for all e-readers and devices. Our goal is to produce eBooks that are user-friendly and accessible to everyone in a high-quality digital format.
A fully illustrated insight into the dogs that served with both Allied and Axis nations during World War II. Animals, especially dogs, have served in all the wars of men since time immemorial. During World War II, most combatant nations employed dogs on the battlefield in a number of ways including searching for injured men or downed airmen; detecting mines; carrying messages between units or dragging communications wires, particularly in difficult terrain; transporting supplies; and sentry duty. This illustrated book is an overview of how dogs were trained and used in WWII by different countries, including the stories of some of the individual animals that served. It also summarizes the various programs established to take care of the animals and send them home after the war.
Dogs of the Shepherds is a book for all those who admire the most valuable of all the working dogs, the pastoral breeds: sheepdogs, cattle dogs and flock protection dogs, the indispensable farmer's servants and companion dogs for thousands of proud dog-owners across the globe. Painstakingly researched and packed with information, this book is not a manual covering training, grooming, nutrition and dog care; it is very much a reflective review of the pastoral dogs' contribution to the working and companion dog scene. It is a searching examination of their past, their performance and their prospects in an increasingly urban society. Essential reading for all those with an interest in these handsome and quite admirable dogs, and lavishly illustrated throughout.
