The Invention of the Modern Dog

Breed and Blood in Victorian Britain (Animals, History, Culture)

De: Michael Worboys, Julie-Marie Strange, Neil Pemberton

Narrado por: Keith McCarthy

In The Invention of the Modern Dog, Michael Worboys, Julie-Marie Strange, and Neil Pemberton explore when, where, why, and how Victorians invented the modern way of ordering and breeding dogs. Though talk of "breed" was common before this period in the context of livestock, the modern idea of a dog breed defined in terms of shape, size, coat, and color arose during the Victorian period in response to a burgeoning competitive dog show culture. The authors explain how breeders, exhibitors, and showmen borrowed ideas of inheritance and pure blood, as well as breeding practices of livestock, horse, poultry and other fancy breeders, and applied them to a species that was long thought about solely in terms of work and companionship.

The new dog breeds embodied and reflected key aspects of Victorian culture, and they quickly spread across the world, as some of Britain’s top dogs were taken on stud tours or exported in a growing international trade. Connecting the emergence and development of certain dog breeds to both scientific understandings of race and blood as well as Britain’s posture in a global empire, The Invention of the Modern Dog demonstrates that studying dog breeding cultures allows historians to better understand the complex social relationships of late-nineteenth-century Britain.

The book is published by Johns Hopkins University Press. The audiobook is published by University Press Audiobooks.

©2018 Johns Hopkins University Press (P)2024 Redwood Audiobooks

Reseñas de la Crítica

"A fascinating read for anyone interested in the origins of today's dog breeds." (Pets Magazine)

"A magnificent book . . . a wonderfully lively text that traces the sources of our own obsession with doggy design..." (The Guardian)

"Highly entertaining..." (Times Literary Supplement)