PETRUS, DOG OF THE HILL COUNTRY

Petrus, son of a wild dog and a shepherd's bitch, is born at the moment of Christ's nativity. It is he who stands beside the infant's crib, and it is he who lovingly follows his master, Saul, as a devoted and fearless companion. Upon Saul's death, Petrus instinctively follows a path which leads him to the Christ, now a young man of fifteen, and it is Petrus' devotion to Christ which keeps him young and spirited as a pup despite his advanced years. Written by the author of Eagle of the Hebrides and Wolf of Badenoch, this story is distinguished by its strong poetic flavor and its unsentimental and gripping portrayal of a lonely and courageous animal. An excellent Christmas selection.