Title: Animal Wrongs
Author: Stephen Spotte
Publisher: Three Rooms Press
Release Date: Oct 19, 2021
Disclaimer: I won an ARC via a giveaway at Librarything.
Spotte’s Animal Wrongs is one of those clever books that does not bludgeon you to death with its cleverness. Spotte’s book makes use of trials that occurred in the Middle Ages when animals were put on trial for things like eating grain stores. In fact, the set up of the book mirrors works from the Middle Ages and Renaissance. The two lawyers are at the center of the novel, Chassenee and Revigny, were real lawyers who did take part in such cases.
That, however, is only one level of the novel’s cleverness.
Another clever aspect is the use of the two lawyers, who in many ways free like a darker, more cynical less hopeful versions of Crowley and Aziraphale. It’s not a complete comparison. Chassenee isn’t an angel but any definition. Yet, there is that same sense of two who should be on opposites sides, but pick a third side. In part, they function also as Dante and Virgil in a strange side trip as well. In many ways, it is the relationship between these two men
Another level of clever is the use of an actual trial to not only examine the rights of animals but also the ills of society. He makes use of scripture and philosophy. There are interesting scientific tidbits as well that are used to contrast with the beliefs in the Middle Ages, so you actually learn something when reading this novel.
It might help when reading to have some familiarity with the Middle Ages as well as with Medieval writing. In general, however, this amusing and clever book. It is the first book I have read by Spotte, but it will not be the last.
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