A story of love, life and death - and one man and his dog.
A small ad in the local newspaper turns Cédric Sapin-Defour's world upside down: a litter of Bernese Mountain dogs are looking for homes. The idea of curing his loneliness with a new companion appeals to him, and he immediately falls for the puppy with the blue collar. Waiting for little Ubac is unbearable, and all sorts of preparations are made for the new arrival. Even choosing a name is an adventure.
As Ubac grows, he takes - in every sense of the word - an ever larger place in Cédric's life. We witness the beginnings of an understanding between man and dog, as they both crave their long walks in the mountains, hate to be apart, and protect each other. This special connection is then extended to new members of the pack: Cédric's wife, Mathilde, and canines Cordée and Frison.
Over the course of thirteen years, we're kept in suspense by an unpredictable affection, a joyous life lived too fast, the aching pain of separation and the happy memories that demonstrate an unconditional love.
'Not just a tribute to the love humans feel for their pets but also a means of voicing the deep grief that can be felt after a dog's death, when all that is left is a collar and hairs, and the house seems too big without them.' Guardian
His Smell After the Rain has been a surprise bestseller and word-of-mouth sensation in France, championed by indie booksellers, selling more than 300,000 copies.
Translated by Adriana Hunter.
The international sensation, a charming and moving memoir of a dog's transformative love, and an intimate journey into what heals us after loss. Having a dog as company makes nothing feel excessive - not time or space. It's not even about passing time, but being of it. A tiny ad in a local newspaper catches Cédric Sapin-Defour's eye: a litter of Bernese Mountain Dog puppies need homes. A lonely, single, gym teacher and mountain climber in the French Alps, Cédric visits the dogs and immediately falls for a puppy with a blue collar who steps over his siblings to get to him. Named Ubac, French for the north side of the mountain - the rainy, cloudy slope - the puppy quickly upends Cédric's life. They go on hikes together, taking to the hills and exploring, forging a bond that brings joy and a sense of fulfillment and adventure. They brave the world together, hate to be apart, crave the mountains and the natural world; they protect each other. Over the course of thirteen years, their pack expands to include Mathilde, Cédric's wife, and more dogs. Ubac and Me is an intimate meditation on a joyous life lived too fast, the aching pain of separation, and the transformative effect of unconditional love. A dog named for the rainy side of the mountain is an inspiring lesson in how walking the rocky, cloudy hills together can bring the greatest light, the sunniest joys, even if the shared journey is unbearably short. 'Not just a tribute to the love humans feel for their pets but also a means of voicing the deep grief that can be felt after a dog's death, when all that is left is a collar and hairs, and the house seems too big without them.' Guardian Ubac and Me has been a surprise bestseller and word-of-mouth sensation in France, championed by indie booksellers, selling more than 300,000 copies. Translated by Adriana Hunter.
