My household of pets

Théophile Gautier, the irascible French Romantic who once declared 'Art is useless,' spent his life surrounded by cats, dogs, and assorted creatures who clearly outranked most humans in his affection. This charming collection of essays reveals the private domestic life of a writer better known for his wild beard and wilder opinions. Gautier writes with characteristic wit about his menagerie, from the cats who lounged upon his shoulders during literary gatherings to the dogs who accompanied him on travels. He defends his devotion to animals with characteristic self-awareness, noting that he has loved them 'as any brahmin or old maid' since an age when he was 'yet ignorant of the alphabet.' The piece includes his wonderfully grand comparison of himself to Byron, who erected monuments to his dogs. These aren't mere pet stories; they're miniature portraits of a tender heart beneath the aesthete's persona, proving that the man who championed art for art's sake had plenty of heart left over for his furry companions.