Animals and War—Studies of Europe and North America

In his introduction to this book, editor Hediger (English, Kent State U.) uses the U.S. Navy Seal raid on Osama Bin Laden's compound in 2011 as an example leading to a provocative question. Paraphrased, he asks "What does it mean that a dog was considered critical in this extremely important mission?" While the use of animals in war is certainly not a new phenomenon, the practice raises very interesting questions regarding the need for and dependence on their special abilities in war time. Many chapters in this book are devoted to providing thoughtful, insightful responses to that human vulnerability and dependence, and on the nature of the close human-animal relationships that develop, even in the midst of war. Annotation c2013 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Ryan Hediger, Ph.D. (2005), University of Oregon, is Assistant Professor of English at Kent State University at Tuscarawas. He has published numerous essays on animals including pieces treating Ernest Hemingway, violence, and disability. He co-edited Animals and Agency (Brill, 2009).