Creative Compassion, Literature and Animal Welfare (The Palgrave Macmillan Animal Ethics Series)

This book examines animal welfare themes in fiction, and considers how authors of the last two centuries undermine dominative attitudes toward the nonhuman. Appearing alongside the emerging humane movements of the nineteenth century and beyond is a kind of storytelling sympathetic to protectionist efforts well-described as a literature of protest. Compassion-inclined tales like the Dolittle adventures by Hugh Lofting __educate__ readers on a wide range of ethical questions, __empathize__ with the vulnerable, and __envision__ peaceful coexistence with other species. Memorable characters like Black Beauty and Beautiful Joe, Ivan the gorilla and Louis the trumpeter swan, Hazel and Cheeta, Mr. Bultitude and Doctor Rat do not merely amuse. They are voices from the margins who speak with moral urgency to those with ears to hear. This broad survey of ethical themes in animal fiction highlights the unique contributions creative writers make toward animal welfare efforts. Front Matter ....Pages i-xvii Introduction: The Parallel Voices of Modern Animal Welfare Movements and a Literature of Compassion (Michael J. Gilmour)....Pages 1-43 It’s a Bad World for Animals: Activism and Sentimental Literature (Michael J. Gilmour)....Pages 45-75 Eating Meat, Eating Misery (Michael J. Gilmour)....Pages 77-97 Lessons on Animals and Science with Doctor Rat (Michael J. Gilmour)....Pages 99-122 St. Francis Visits Rabbit Hill: Visions of Coexistence (Michael J. Gilmour)....Pages 123-156 A Sort of Temple: Religious Themes in Animal Literature (Michael J. Gilmour)....Pages 157-189 The Mark of Cain: Human Hunters and Animal Predators (Michael J. Gilmour)....Pages 191-223 Animals, Mourning, and Cat-lovin’ Bastards (Michael J. Gilmour)....Pages 225-250 Back Matter ....Pages 251-254