Eric Knight (1) (1897–1943)

The classic children's book Lassie Come-Home by Eric Knight was originally published in 1940. Having stood the test of time, this story is as appealing today as it has been for generations of dog-lovers. I grew up watching the TV program "Lassie" but had never read the original story. I was surprised by the English setting having assumed the story, like the tv show, was American.

Both Yorkshire and the Scottish Highlands are vividly portrayed in this book, and the beautiful collie dog that show more takes center stage is described almost as royalty. Lassie was a special dog and her love for her master could not be quelled or her homing instinct changed no matter how far away she was taken. Her struggles to get back to her "boy" carried her the length of Scotland and back into England and along the way she encountered both bad situations and good ones.

I am a dog lover and this book spoke to my heart. I was rooting for Lassie to find her way home and was thrilled at the outcome of the book. I don't know how I missed this book when I was young, but if I had come across it, it would have had a place of honor on my shelves. show less

A very strange book. Definitely not hardboiled noir in the sense of Hammett, Chandler, or Cain. More of a satire on California and Hollywood in particular, seen through the eyes of an outsider, which perhaps mirrors the author's own experience moving from England to the USA in his teens, then going on to become a Hollywood scriptwriter. For the most part, rather well written, but the characters tend to be rather mysterious with motivations (even of the protagonist) that aren't very apparent. show more The noir is blunted by the fact that we like the protagonist -- even as he does some things that aren't very admirable. The most mysterious character is his new love, the "Naked Mermaid" he meets in one of the strangest and most dreamlike passages I've ever read. The whole book has the atmosphere of a dream, in fact.

Read the ending a couple of times. I guess I was in a hurry to finish it the first time, and I kind of missed the implications.

So not classic noir, but definitely unique. show less

One of my favorites. Not sure if this was the first long amazing journey dog story, but did that well. Descriptions of the motions and behavior of the dog to go with the point in the story are well done. After you read this one, read 'Lad: A Dog' and let me know which one you like better.

One of my favorites. Not sure if this was the first long amazing journey dog story, but did that well. Descriptions of the motions and behavior of the dog to go with the point in the story are well done. After you read this one, read 'Lad: A Dog' and let me know which one you like better.