Agricultural History Review, Volume 56 Part 2 (2008), p. 262

Given the recent renewed concern over the use of animals in research, the continued and increasing popularity of domestic pets (especially cats and dogs), and the renaissance of interest in natural history and biodiversity, Linda Kalof’s book, Looking at animals in human history should find a ready audience. Written in an engaging style with the author’s keen attention focused upon her reader, Kalof’s monograph provides a rapid and concise overview of the reciprocal relationship between animals and humans from pre-history to the modern times. Of course, such a vast and breathtaking survey may not satisfy those academic historians with their penchant for deep micro-history, but the educated animal lover will find much to enjoy and savour in the book.

Kalof does not offer a new argument or novel thesis. Instead, her book is a breezy secondary review and compilation of the available literature dealing with interactions between animals and their human brethren. She masterfully marshals this material to her task, while also providing the inquiring reader with an extensive and comprehensive bibliography (and reference notes) to pursue specific aspects of the book in more detail. Kalof’s historical approach also draws heavily upon both the visual arts and a variety of literary traditions, especially since direct references to the animal-human interactions before the early modern period are quite scanty.

Looking at animals in human history is organized chronologically, beginning with a chapter on ‘pre-history’, and then progressing through antiquity, the medieval period, the renaissance, and a two-century version (1600–1800) of the enlightenment. As mentioned, for source material in these chapters she depends upon interpretations of art and literature. With the more modern period, however, she examines the transition from understanding animals as mechanized beasts to humanized objects, with the attendant rise of anthropomorphism. In the final chapter, she adds information from the emerging museum tradition, the popularity of zoos and aquaria, and the contemporary mania for natural history exhibitions. All of this material is treated carefully and offered clearly.

Kalof should be commended for producing such an accessible treatment of how humans have interacted with animals over such an extended period of time. The book should find a ready audience among animal lovers, who will find much to enjoy. But it could also be profitably used for courses in the history of science, medicine, and veterinary medicine.