And a Dog Called Fig: Solitude, Connection, the Writing Life

Helen Humphreys' memoir explores the writing life through the dogs she has lived with over a lifetime. The book examines how artistic solitude—a necessary space for creative work—can also bring loneliness and self-doubt. Humphreys argues that artists benefit from canine companionship: creatures with emotional intelligence, curiosity, and enthusiasm for the world, yet capable of contentment during long periods of quiet. The memoir reflects on themes of connection, solitude, friendship, and the creative process, culminating with the arrival of a puppy named Fig. It considers companionship and loss, creativity and craft, alongside the restorative power of nature and animal friendship. Throughout, Humphreys weaves in stories of other writers and their dogs: Virginia Woolf with Grizzle, Gertrude Stein with Basket, and Thomas Hardy with Wessex, who famously walked across the dining table during dinner parties. The book suggests that each dog, like each work of art, is distinctive and offers its own lessons—and that allowing them to guide us reveals worlds we might otherwise miss.