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(3.79) | 22 | Bashan and I is the moving story of Thomas Mann's relationship with his spirited German short-haired pointer. From their first encounter at a local farm, Mann reveals how he slowly grows to love this energetic, loyal, and intelligent animal. Taking daily walks in the nearby parkland, Mann begins to understand and appreciate Bashan as a living being, witnessing his native delight in chasing rabbits, deer, and squirrels along with his careful investigations of stones, fallen branches, and clumps of wet leaves. As their bond deepens, Mann is led to contemplate Bashan's inner life, and marvels at the ease with which his dog trusts him, completely putting his life into his master's hands. Over time, the two develop a deep mutual understanding, but for Mann, there is always a sense of loss at never being able to enter the private world of his dear friend, and he slowly becomes conscious of the eternal divide between mankind and the rest of nature. Nonetheless, the unique relationship quietly moves to the forefront of Mann's life, and when master and companion are briefly separated, Mann is taken aback by the depth of his loneliness without his dog. It is this deep affection for another living creature that helps the writer to reach a newfound understanding of the nature of love, in all its complexity. First published in 1916 and translated into English in 1923, Bashan and I was heralded for its simple telling of how a dog became a priceless companion, an animal who brought meaning to the author's life.… (more) |
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When spring, which all men agree is the fairest season of the year, comes round again and happens to do honour to its name, I love to go for half an hour's stroll in the open air before breakfast. (Translator = Herman George Scheffauer) | |
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Information from the Dutch Common Knowledge. Edit to localize it to your language. Op het ogenblik echter, dat ik mij neerbuig en mijn hand uitstrek, is hij plotseling met een sprong naast mij en staat, zijn schouder tegen mijn scheenbeen aangeperst, als een standbeeld: scheef tegen mij aangeleund staat hij, zijn sterke poten tegen de grond gedrukt, zijn gezicht naar mij toe gekeerd, zodat hij mij omgekeerd en vanonder af in mijn ogen kijkt en zijn bewegingloosheid, terwijl ik hem met halfluide en goede woorden op zijn schouderblad klop, ademt dezelfde concentratie en hartstocht als de voorafgegane vervoering. Het is een kortharige Duitse patrijshond, - als men deze benaming niet al te streng en strikt, maar met een korreltje zout wil nemen; want een patrijshond zoals hij te boek staat en volgens de pijnlijkste observatie is Bauschan eigenlijk wel niet. | |
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▾References References to this work on external resources. Wikipedia in EnglishNone ▾Book descriptions Bashan and I is the moving story of Thomas Mann's relationship with his spirited German short-haired pointer. From their first encounter at a local farm, Mann reveals how he slowly grows to love this energetic, loyal, and intelligent animal. Taking daily walks in the nearby parkland, Mann begins to understand and appreciate Bashan as a living being, witnessing his native delight in chasing rabbits, deer, and squirrels along with his careful investigations of stones, fallen branches, and clumps of wet leaves. As their bond deepens, Mann is led to contemplate Bashan's inner life, and marvels at the ease with which his dog trusts him, completely putting his life into his master's hands. Over time, the two develop a deep mutual understanding, but for Mann, there is always a sense of loss at never being able to enter the private world of his dear friend, and he slowly becomes conscious of the eternal divide between mankind and the rest of nature. Nonetheless, the unique relationship quietly moves to the forefront of Mann's life, and when master and companion are briefly separated, Mann is taken aback by the depth of his loneliness without his dog. It is this deep affection for another living creature that helps the writer to reach a newfound understanding of the nature of love, in all its complexity. First published in 1916 and translated into English in 1923, Bashan and I was heralded for its simple telling of how a dog became a priceless companion, an animal who brought meaning to the author's life. ▾Library descriptions No library descriptions found. ▾LibraryThing members' description
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There was some talk of Bashan's being beaten and how certain things, like being encouraged to perform tricks made him behave as if he feared that he was going to be beaten, but I did not get the impression that Mann had ever treated him in this way. Mann owned him from his early days so maybe the farmers he lived with when a young puppy put this fear into him. Then again, due to the fact that I have never owned a dog, this could be completely wrong. Do dogs act this way without provocation? I don't know, but I am reassured by a follower of the 'Dog Whisperer' telling me that Bashan's behavior did not necessarily mean that he had ever been abused. That is a relief. ( )