Four-Legged Inspiration

摘要

New york's Morgan Library & Museum recently had an exhibition, "In the Company of Animals," which explored the many ways that these creatures have inspired artists and writers throughout history. I was drawn to the showing initially because of my current book project, a biography of humorist Will Cuppy, whose writing satirized humanity through an anthropomorphic use of so-called lower life forms, in texts such as How to Tell Your Friends from the Apes (1931) and How to Attract the Wombat (1949).