Dog by Robert J. Blake is another story about a solitary man who gives in to the irresistible companionship of a dog. This story comes from the author’s visits to Ireland. The paintings are real places Blake visited. A portrait of the main character is on the dust jacket, a real person who lived all alone without running water or electricity. The author became friends with this solitary man and received permission to paint the inside, outside, and all around the man’s house. The narrative has a “smooth Irish lilt”. The man’s gradual surrender to a dog that appears on his doorstep out of nowhere is a story for all ages. I’m guessing that adults will forgive the man’s harshness as a consequence of his living situation, and they'll perceive his attempts to warm to the dog.
