Prince and Other Dogs II

I had seen these books when they first came out and as an animal lover -- and collector myself of old animal photographs and prints -- I was instantly enchanted. The simplicity of the presentation of these touching photos is what makes them so striking. There's no need for sentiment or comment to know that these animals were valued partners, co-workers and family members. I also liked Ms Hall's observation on pedigrees and "average dogs" in her intro. I admire a fine-looking dog but as a fan of "mutts" I had to agree with her that the more humans have refined the dog the less healthy and happy he may be. Consider Ms Hall's books for any animal lover but particularly for the dog lover out there.

Prince and Other Dogs II is a treasure to have in one's own library. It is the second volume of a collection of anonymous photos of dogs, clearly beloved by whomever the owners were. Every aspect of the book, size, shape, layout, is so satisfactory that it will be a pleasure every time one encounters it. As a gift for alover of books & dogs there could be nothing sweeter.

Libby Hall's second volume of elderly photos of dogs and their humans is another winner. Hall, who has always lived with dogs, has a wonderful sense of a good photo, both in its composition and in its subject matter. These black and white photos are charming, sometimes funny, sometimes sad; they all capture the great love and friendship possible between canines and humans. With no captions, these photos tell stories on their own. I especially loved the series of photos of a human giving some sort of order to a dog (generally for a treat of some kind), while the dog watches and listens intently. This book would be a wonderful addition to anyone's dog and/or photo book library.

Prince and Other Dogs 2 is another tasteful labor of love from Libby Hall and should, as did P1, please cynophiles as well as lovers and collectors of antique photographs. An especially delightful feature of this latest volume is the pages upon pages of lovely Victorian and Edwardian children, preserved forever in dignified poses with their beloved pets. Moreover, as the owner of a spunky Jack Russell Terrier, I can once again report that Ms. Hall has given the JRT crowd another bounteous offering: by my rough count, P2's canine companions are roughly 25 percent JRTs, pure or in part. (Perhaps one of these is a long lost ancestor to my own - her sire, after all, was a Brit.)P2 is a carefully produced companion volume of its predecessor, printed on the same high-quality paper and, as a duodecimo volume (c. 4.5" x 7"), fitting beautifully in the hand, with a nice heft that befits its quality manufacture. We keep both books out - near the First Folio facsimile - for friends to flip through. Everyone is quickly drawn to a favorite photo of dog or master. P2 is bargain priced and just in time for the holidays. Buy in quantity!

The book is a collection of old photographs of dogs and their owners, no text. Looking through the photos makes me smile and reminds me of the dogs who have brought joy to my life over the years. These dogs must have also brought great joy to their owner's lives to have been included in these family photos. After all, these pictures were taken long before the days of disposable cameras and 1-hour photo developing. This book (and the first book "Prince and Others") would make a wonderful gift for any dog lover.(Note: both books are the perfect size for stocking stuffers)