The Story of My Cousins
Henry S. Salt
- Edition: First Edition
- Publisher: Watts & Co., London
- Published: 1923
- Length: 71
Summary
In The Story of My Cousins, Henry S. Salt offers a charming collection of biographical sketches that celebrate the animal friends who enriched his life. Through a series of delightful narratives, Salt shares spontaneous and unsolicited friendships formed with various animals, highlighting their unique personalities and the bonds that developed over time.
Central to the book is “Master,” a spirited kitten who adopted Salt as his guardian. Their adventures, marked by humour and pathos, reveal Master’s assertive nature as he navigates encounters with other neighbourhood cats. Another poignant tale involves “Tawno Chikno,” a rook rescued by Salt’s wife, whose deep affection for her is showcased through the bird’s remarkable return whenever called.
Salt’s reflections extend to the broader kinship between humans and animals, urging readers to recognize the love and friendship animals can offer, which is akin to our own. He emphasizes the importance of treating animals with respect and politeness, advocating for a view of animals as sentient beings deserving of kindness.
Through these engaging stories, Salt illustrates the lessons learned from his animal “cousins,” revealing their capacity for love and the profound connections that can exist beyond species boundaries. This heartfelt collection invites readers to appreciate the beauty of interspecies friendships and the shared experiences that unite us all.
Content
- Concerning Cousinhood
- Cosette
- GYP
- Our Young Master
- Episode of the Little Grey Cat
- Our Old Master
- Tawno Chikno
- Iolanthe
- What My Cousins Taught Me
Reviews
- Mr. Salt’s Relations The Vegetarian News, February 1924
- Story of My Cousins The Animals' Friend (Annual Volume), 1923
- The Story of My Cousins The Guardian, August 17, 1923
- The Story of My Cousins: Brief Animal Biographies Times Literary Supplement, June 7, 1923
