Horse

Paris on Horseback was written and illustrated by French author and cartoonist known as Crafty, whose real name was Victor Eugène Geruzez (1840-1906), specializing in books on horses and hunting. The contents of the book are divided into sections: "Cavalry of Paris," "At the Bois de Boulogne," "At the Races," and "The Art of Falling from the Horse." These satirical and witty observations highlight the transactions and tricks that surrounded acquiring a horse from a Parisian horse dealer. It takes a comical view of French society, the racing world, the horse show, and dressage.

This fun, interesting, and lavishly illustrated book tells the stories of approximately 50 animals that have played crucial roles in human history. Chaline’s fascinating essay topics range from the history of oyster-raising to the essential role of the horse. Humans are the subject of the final essay, which includes a warning that we are our own worst enemy. Each animal is classed among four categories as “Edible, Medicinal, Commercial, and/or Practical" (a dog-loving reader might quibble with the idea of modern housecats being considered “practical”).