Man & Beast

by Andrew Rule

Man & Beast features some of the greats of Australian literature, writing about the particular kinships they have with the loves, the losses and the surprising turns those relationships can take.Les Carlyon writes about those strange beings, horse people. Robert Drewe’s curious eye falls on everything from bull sharks to bull ants. Don Watson is a secret racehorse fancier. Shaun Micallef remembers the dog that might never have been and Paul Toohey laments the passing of the ’roo dog.Plus, Andrew Rule, Phillip Adams, Greg Baum, Tony Birch, John Birmingham, Anson Cameron, John Clarke, Greg Combet, Trent Dalton, John Elder, Jonathan Green, John Harms, Malcolm Knox, Garry Linnell, William McInnes, Bruce Pascoe, Liam Pieper, Frank Robson, Andrew Rule, John Silvester, Jeff Sparrow, Tony Wilson, Tony Wright share their memorable stories of the animals in their lives.

Genres: Nonfiction

209 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 28, 2016

Reviews

[Kirsti · Rating 1 out of 5]

This just isn't one of those fluffy animal books where the writers have a great bond with an animal and tell you a tale that cements that love. I guess I thought it was, that we'd see Australian men have a hallmark moment with their animal, and I was totally there for that. I'm going into spoiler territory now, so beware. What I got was puppies being drowned, and essay on why one of them hates dogs, and finally a story about a cat getting eaten by a python. None of those things could my soft heart handle, so I put this back on the shelf at that point and plan on putting it into my charity collection next time I get one together. This IS heartfelt and true at times, but it's a truth I prefer not to see. Definitely not a book I'd recommend, just not for me in the slightest!

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Almost every one of these essays is heart-breaking, one way or another. The cruelty of men aimed at wives, sons, stepsons, motherless kin taken in, and various beloved pets and other animals is devastating. The passing generation of Aussie men are the real beasts of the title! I could not read them all, as the ones I managed to finish haunted me for days. First thing upon awakening I would think of one of the tragic, painful scenes from the childhood of a favourite radio personality. But if you have better nerves than I do these are lovingly written, honest episodes from Australian childhoods that illuminate another generation's mores, and worldview. Excellent for cultural literacy for newcomers, touching for admirers of the various well-known authors, and poignant for those outside Australia who would probably not know the authors at all. There is also much beauty and reflection on nature, family, home, being a man, and the bond with well-loved dogs. Well worth reading! Just be prepared.

[Don Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great collection of stories told by some of Australia's leading writers. I particularly enjoyed Tony Wright's tale of how he could have changed Australia's political history - for the better!