Dog like us

A main character in Manuel Alegre's new book is a Brittany Spaniel. With "brown spots and a kind of white star in the middle of its head". A dog... like us. Like us, because it knows about friendship (the dog is man's best friend), solidarity, protects children, comforts its owner, senses misfortune, 'mourns' death. But it is also haughty and restless. Sometimes disobedient and exhibitionist. Its name is Kurika, and it accompanied the writer and his family for many years. In fact, it 'is' part of the family, says Manuel Alegre. A joyful and touching book. "...being about a dog, the book is about men. Certain men with a certain type of values that are only seemingly contradictory: freedom and loyalty, solidarity, independence, pride." (...) a beautiful love poem from a man to a dog. Like us. "(...) That's why (my dog, the cat) this book touched me so much. And I'm sure it will touch so many other readers, young and old, poor, rich, well-off. Each seeing in Alegre's Kuirika their Leão, their Tejo, their Farrusco, their Saikó, their Jimmy, their Mimi, their Ró-ró." Adelino Gomes, Público, Mil Folhas "In the prose of this very personal novella in the form of small reflections, Alegre achieves a perfect balance between a poetic and humorous register. (...) A work to be read by those who know from experience. And perhaps also by others, since not infrequently... this dog speaks for us."