Sapin-Defour, Cédric: Ubac and Me

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.