Roundtable

Opinions and analysis from Lapham’s Quarterly writers and editors.

May 27, 2013

Her Majesty’s Rat-Catcher

By Adee Braun

In Victorian London, rat-baiting was both a necessity and a sport.

May 11, 2013

Consider the Poodle

By Jason Diamond

Poodles might have a reputation for being pampered house dogs, but their strength and intelligence has led them to be the prized canine friends of John Steinbeck, Winston Churchill, and Vladimir Putin.

May 10, 2013

Charles Mingus Toilet-Trains Your Cat

By Michelle Legro

In 1952, Charles Mingus uses his cat Nightlife to teach the rest of us how to get felines to use indoor plumbing.

May 05, 2013

The Most Talented Dogs in England

By Angela Serratore

One can hardly visit the main page of any social networking site without being bombarded by the accomplishments of an adorable pet, but pride in one’s animal friends stretches far beyond the digital age. In 1895, a British weekly magazine released a collection of letters detailing the amazing accomplishments of dogs.

April 10, 2013

Monkey Business

By Paul Collins

Animals have long been used for physical labor—but what does it mean to do a job, and not truly comprehend it?

April 05, 2013

Pet Cemetery

By Miles Klee

It’s long been suggested that animals (dogs, cats, and even dolphins) have connections to other worlds. A history of animal sixth senses, from ancient Egypt to modern-day Alaska.