Gary Kaskel

He never had any pets, but he started the first animal protection society. He never had any children, but started the first childrens protection society. Henry Bergh was responsible for the birth of two great social justice movements in America, and no biography had been written about him in more than fifty years. No doubt, Henry Bergh is the most... famous American youve never As America recovered from the Civil War, Henry Bergh was a wealthy dilettante-playwright-diplomat, who then turned into a pioneer of social reform on two battle fronts: the abuse of animals and the abuse of children. Blending history and psychology, Gary Kaskel novelistically brings this complex figure to vivid life and illuminates issues very much with us today. Monsters and Miracles is the story of a complex and conflicted warrior for children and animals who changed the consciousness of a nation more than a century ago. As an animal advocate, I love the story of Henry Bergh, founder of the first animal protection society in America. It is simply a must-read for anyone interested in the humane movement and true American heroes. Henry Bergh is widely thought to have started the animal protection movement in America and now, thanks to Gary Kaskels intelligent and compelling biography, we know how how this came to be. Kaskel paints a detailed and personal portrait of the man who taught us to respect animals. This is an important book that will be on the shelf for years to comeand its a great read. Kaskel has woven an urbane and atmospheric tale of New York and Europe in the mid-19th century and an aristocrats passionate crusade not only to bring America forward on the subject of animal cruelty and childrens rights but for meaning and purpose in his own life.Read More