Aileen Aroon

Gordon Stables turns a lifetime among animals into affectionate, comic, and deeply personal sketches, beginning with the beloved Newfoundland Aileen Aroon, whose story is framed as a tribute to faithful companionship. A newly married, cash-strapped naval officer and his wife take in the proud, difficult black dog Sable, whose escape, recovery, and gradual softening into trust reveal the patience and devotion behind true friendship. As Aileen settles beside the loyal Nero, the two dogs become inseparable partners in walks, errands, swims, and mischief, while the narrator's memories of earlier canine companions add warmth and humor. That intimacy extends beyond the kennel. A railway journey nearly erupts into chaos when both dogs take offense at a ram, and the narrator's longing for a quiet country home grows into vivid dreams of gardens, hunting, beer, cider, and a whole menagerie of animals. The book also widens into life aboard ship, where tropical cabins swarm with spiders, scorpions, centipedes, ants, and flies, each observed with wonder, dread, and comic precision. Throughout, Stables blends memoir, natural history, and nostalgia into a lively celebration of animal character and domestic peace. This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design.