The Old Brown Dog: Women, Workers, and Vivisection in Edwardian England

In this fascinating, engagingly written book, the author uses a series of 1907 riots in London concerning the erecting of a statue of a brown dog to explore the connections between labor, feminists, and antivivisectionist forces. Lansbury's contention is that workers and feminists identified themselves with the trembling animal strapped to the operating table. If the inflicting of pain on animals was justifiable, then who might be next? Lansbury supports her case through analysis of novels and events of the time, and also illuminates feelings behind today's animal rights movement. The passions aroused against vivisection ultimately were of little aid to the animals of the book's period, but this investigation of them is enlightening. Recommended for academic and large public libraries. Pat Ensor, Indiana State Univ. Lib., Terre HauteCopyright 1985 Reed Business Information, Inc.