For the love of animals : the rise of the animal protection movement /

In eighteenth-century England--where cockfighting and bullbaiting drew large crowds, and the abuse of animals was routine--the idea of animal protection was dismissed as laughably radical. But as pets became more common, human attitudes toward animals evolved. An unconventional duchess defended thei...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Shevelow, Kathryn, 1951-
Format: Book
Language:English
Published: New York : Henry Holt and Co., 2008.
Edition:1st ed.
Subjects:
Online Access:Contributor biographical information
Publisher description
Description
Summary:In eighteenth-century England--where cockfighting and bullbaiting drew large crowds, and the abuse of animals was routine--the idea of animal protection was dismissed as laughably radical. But as pets became more common, human attitudes toward animals evolved. An unconventional duchess defended their intellect in her writings; a gentleman scientist believed that animals should be treated with compassion; and with the concentrated efforts of an eccentric Scots barrister and a flamboyant Irishman, the lives of beasts--and, correspondingly, men and women--began to change. Kathryn Shevelow, a scholar of the eighteenth century, gives us the dramatic story of the bold reformers who braved attacks because they sympathized with the plight of creatures everywhere. More than just a history, this cultural narrative is an exploration into how our feelings toward animals reveal our ideas about ourselves, God, mercy, and nature.--From publisher description.
Physical Description:x, 352 pages : illustrations ; 25 cm.
Bibliography:Includes bibliographical references (pages 317-332) and index.
ISBN:9780805080902
0805080902