But Ubac never knew, when he died aged 13, that he would become a literary star in France, the unlikely hero of a surprise bestseller that has become the publishing phenomenon of the year.
A memoir of Ubac's joyous life from chomping his evening meals to his enthusiastic mountain walks and trips in the passenger seat of his owner's van - has become France's break-out literary success of the year.
Cédric Sapin-Defour, a sports teacher and mountain enthusiast, wrote the book, Son odeur après la pluie (His smell after the rain), not just as a tribute to the love humans feel for their pets but also as 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 dog hairs, and the house seems too big without them.
Despite France's huge love of pets - the country has an estimated 8 million pet dogs - the publishing world did not anticipate the book's success. It was released quietly in the spring, with a print run of 4,300 copies and no advertising budget.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der November 25, 2023-Ausgabe von The Guardian.
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Diese Geschichte stammt aus der November 25, 2023-Ausgabe von The Guardian.
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