Herr und Hund

Perhaps the most beautiful narrative by Thomas Mann: a love letter to a dog. "The following is exclusively about my dog Bauschan," says Thomas Mann about this enchanting book. The famous owner humorously and thoroughly recounts the lineage and character of his "warm-blooded companion endowed with such beautiful dignity." And then, the loyal mixed-breed chicken dog embarks on the small adventures and sensations that his Munich territory along the Isar abundantly offers. Literature may not have a more intimate portrait of man's best friend.

• Perhaps the greatest piece of literature ever written about a dog.
• An incomparable literary monument to Thomas Mann's beloved dog "Bauschan."
• "What a beautiful and good creature Bauschan is, standing there firmly leaning against my knee and looking up at me with deep, devoted admiration!"
• "Affectionate and ironic, almost in a state of childlike fascination, but also full of worldly reality, Mann writes his bourgeois dog confession."
• A delightful read for dog lovers and Thomas Mann enthusiasts alike.
• "The narrative 'Master and Dog' from 1919 reveals much about the growing republican sentiment of a democratizing gentleman who, however, does not want to give up a remnant of aristocratism. For 'Bauschan,' the somewhat clumsy, because 'bred down' chicken dog, has lost the ability to hunt – he only carries it as an instinct within him."
• "Mann depicts his life with the 'chicken dog mix' Bauschan in such a sensitive, yet non-anthropomorphizing way that many contemporary 'dog psychologists' could take a cue from it. His descriptions of dog life are so precise that they make for an incredibly enjoyable read, and even contemporary theories [...] can be found within.".