Rat

(Paperback)

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Description

This book traces the history of the human relationship with rats from the first archaeological finds to the genetically engineered rats of the present day, describing its role in the arts and sciences, religion and myth, psychoanalysis and medicine. The author includes wide-ranging examples of the rat's appearance: in literature The Pied Piper, Beatrix Potter stories, The Wind in the Willows; in culture Victorian rat-and-dog baiting pits, its popularity as a pet, even the subject of a '70s pop song; and folklore.

Reviews

Superbly illustrated, this is the perfect book for the rat fancier in your life The Guardian Tracing salient periods in the symbiotic connection we have had with these reviled and revered creatures, Burt's absorbing and highly readable story gnaws into the labyrinthine, deep-rooted psychological terror that these tenacious creatures engender. The Herald, Glasgow well illustrated ... an excellent example of how cultural history can entertainingly cross borders. BBC History Magazine Rat is a good account of the many different manifestations of this animal, and a good place to start for those new to critical animal studies. TLS a highly useful reference source for the history of rat-human relationships ... The book's theme is that the rat mirrors the human: and the book itself, in being the history of that connection, provides a compelling, albeit often disturbing, look into the human mind Anthrozoos This book represents an altogether very impressive effort of drawing on examples from the arts, science, religion and folklore of the six continents that rats have colonised ... a lovely book. Animal Welfare ... a fascinating read, even for those a bit squeamish about Rattus. British Journal for the History of Science

Author Bio

Jonathan Burt is a freelance writer who lives in Cambridge, UK. He is the author of Animals in Film (Reaktion, 2002) and general editor of the animal series.