From Publishers Weekly
It's possible that those who have never shared their days with a dog might find this deeply personal paean to a precocious beagle somewhat twee. Chances are, however, they'll find themselves caught up in the love story, converts to the world of dogs and the people whose hearts they capture. Martin, an English-literature scholar (A Life of James Boswell), pulls out all the stops in detailing the 21 years he and his family shared with Perth, a strong-willed pet who was, if the author is to be believed, a god among dogs always clean (with her own sweet "groggy-doggie" smell), fiercely loyal, impossibly intelligent (she learned 18 tricks in mere days) and totally trusting. Plucked as a pup from a kennel in upstate New York, the canine heroine of the story follows the Martins through teaching appointments in Ohio and Florida before accompanying them to a small village in Britain for the last half of her life. It's a charming memoir that gains almost adventure-story momentum when Martin describes his family's frantic search for Perth, who ran away from her Vermont caretakers during a summer the Martins spent abroad. The beagle survived months in the wilderness and found shelter at an isolated fishing camp before being reunited with her owners. Martin narrates this melodramatic chapter in the lives of a dog and her humans with a grace that could well bring tears to a soft-hearted reader's eyes. (Nov.) Forecast: There are nearly as many books about dogs as there are fleas looking for a place to feast, but this one, handsome enough to stand out as a point-of-purchase impulse buy, begs to be hand-sold by booksellers. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
Books about pets can be charming, adorable, moving, enchanting. They can also be cutesy, contrived, annoying. Thankfully, this changeofpace volume from a respected author of literary biographies (of Alexander Pope and James Boswell, for example) falls into the first category. Perth, a blackandbrown beagle, was utterly adorable, an adventurer, a member of the family, not so much a pet as a small, fourlegged person. But this isn't just the story of a dog; it's the story of a young couple in their midtwenties, newly married and ready to make a life together, finding out who they are and who they could be. Martin is a graceful writer, painting detailed pictures with only a handful of words, and we sink into the book the way we sink into a comfy chair: with a sigh and the anticipation of a pleasurable few hours. Martin and his wife adopted Perth in 1965; she is long gone now, but, as long as we're inside this book, she is a living, breathing animal, full of love. David Pitt
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved


Book Description
From the instant they spotted the forlorn puppy in the kennel, as she stared at them with her intense eyes, Cindy and Peter Martin knew she was the one for them. Almost immediately, Perth became a central part of the household, a dog for all dogs. Always left to run free, Perth became an indefatigable explorer, often gone for hours or entire days, but her infallible compass always brought her back home. From her adoption in upstate New York, her incredible survival in the wilderness of Vermont to her later adventures in the English countryside, Perth displayed the same devotion, unshakable trust, and unstinting love. An entertaining, beautifully written homage to a very special dog.


About the Author
Peter Martin was born in Argentina and educated in America. He has taught English literature at universities here and in England, and is the author of the recently acclaimed A Life of James Boswell. He lives half the year in the United States and half in the village of Bury in West Sussex.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

From the instant they spotted the forlorn puppy in the kennel, Cindy and Peter Martin knew she was the one for them. Refusing to remain a mere pet, Perth becomes an adored member of the household, and embodies the young couple's dreams. The Martins swear to always let Perth run free, and she becomes an indefatigable explorer with an infallible compass. From her adoption in upstate New York and her incredible survival in the wilderness of Vermont to her later adventures in the English countryside, Perth rewards the Martins with unshakable trust and unstinting love. This is an entertaining, beautifully written homage to a very special dog.

Author Biography: Peter Martin was born in Argentina and grew up in the United States. He has taught English literature at universities here and in England, and is the author of The Life of James Boswell, among other works. He now lives in the village of Bury, West Sussex, England.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly