Ubac and Me - by Cédric Sapin-Defour Hardcover

About the Book

A memoir by the author of his life with Ubac, a remarkable Bernes Mountain Dog.

Book Synopsis

The international sensation, a charming and moving memoir of a dog's transformative love.

"Having a dog as company makes nothing feel excessive--not time or space. It's not even about passing time, but being of it."

A tiny ad in a local newspaper catches Cedric Sapin-Defour's eye: a litter of Bernese Mountain Dog puppies need homes. A lonely, single gym teacher and mountain climber in the French Alps, Cedric visits the dogs and immediately falls for a puppy with a blue collar who steps over his siblings to get to him.

Named Ubac, French for the north side of the mountain--the rainy, cloudy slope--the puppy quickly upends Cedric's life. They go on hikes together, taking to the hills and exploring, forging a bond that brings joy and a sense of fulfillment and adventure. They brave the world together, hate to be apart, crave the mountains and the natural world; they protect each other.

Over the course of thirteen years, their pack expands to include Mathilde, Cedric's wife, and more dogs. Ubac and Me is an intimate meditation on a joyous life lived too fast, the aching pain of separation, and the transformative effect of unconditional love. A dog named for the rainy side of the mountain is an inspiring lesson in how walking the rocky, cloudy hills together can bring the greatest light, the sunniest joys, even if the shared journey is unbearably short.

Review Quotes

"Can't afford a vacation to the French Alps? Cédric Sapin-Defour's forthcoming book can take you there in his soulful account of bonding with a puppy" --John McMurtrie, Kirkus Reviews

"A lovely, moving story that held me from page one. If you've ever wondered if you're the only one who feels the over the top, crazy love for your dog, Ubac and Me is for you." --Julie Klam, author of You Had Me At Woof and Love At First Bark

"An elegant, heartfelt meditation on life with a beloved dog....A book every dog lover will cherish, celebrating the unbreakable bond of canine and human." --Kirkus Reviews (starred)

"Not just a tribute to the love humans feel for their pets but also a means of voicing the deep grief that can be felt after a dog's death, when all that is left is a collar and hairs, and the house seems too big without them." --The Guardian

About the Author

Cédric Sapin-Defour is a French writer, sports teacher, and mountaineer, whose work focuses on the slightly crazy dream that man and nature can learn to live together again. He lives in the small Alpine town of Beaufort with his wife, Mathilde, and Lulu, their adopted Romanian street dog.