One of the oldest known breeds of domesticated dogs, the Saluki traveled throughout the Middle East with desert tribes, who valued the dogs for their ability to hunt gazelles. Famously painted on the walls of the Pharaohs' tombs, the Salukis' history intrigued English dog enthusiasts who were instrumental in popularizing the breed and importing it to Europe and the United States in the early 20th century. This book tells the story of those who brought the Saluki to the West, most notably Florence Amherst, who discovered the dogs while in Egypt and went on to breed 50 litters. Other world travelers who fell under the Salukis' spell included Lady Anne Blunt, Austen Layard and Gertrude Bell. Also covered are lesser-known Saluki aficionados, mainly military officers who hunted with their hounds in Iraq, Syria, Palestine, and Egypt and sought to replicate that experience at home.
Brian Patrick Duggan, M.A., is a native Californian and has been a technology professional in higher education for over two decades. He is currently the Director of Learning Services at California State University, Stanislaus.
Brian has judged Salukis in the United States, England, and Finland. He was president of the Saluki Club of Greater San Francisco for over a dozen years and is currently the AKC Gazette Saluki columnist. He has been published internationally and three of Brian's many historical articles about Salukis and their owners have won national awards from the Dog Writer's Association of America. Of these, "Dear Miss Amherst... Yours Sincerely, T.E. Lawrence" - which revealed a previously unknown connection between Lawrence of Arabia and the doyenne of Salukis, was the spark that started his work on "Saluki".
Some of his adventures in researching and writing "Saluki" include:
* taking a formal oath to do research at the Bodleian Libary and then getting locked in after closing - until the night porter turned up.
* having dinner with the Earl of Portland.
* eating great fish and chips at The Compleat Angler - a Norwich pub built on the site of a Medieval witch-burning pit.
* sitting in Robert Heinlein's chair at UC Santa Cruz.
* sleeping in a house known to have a ghost.
