Nigel: my family and other dogs

We all love the way that our pet dogs show us unbiased, non-judgemental affection. When we are fed up, distressed, grumpy or even have behaved badly and done something we know to be wrong, our dogs still love us. But Nigel has the rare gift of taking our love and making us feel enlarged and enriched by doing so… that is a powerful gift to have.

Meet Nigel, Britain’s favourite dog.

When Monty Don's golden retriever Nigel became the surprise star of BBC Gardeners' World inspiring huge interest, fan mail and his own social media accounts, Monty Don wanted to explore what makes us connect with animals quite so deeply.

In many respects Nigel is a very ordinary dog; charming, handsome and obedient, as so many are, and a much loved family pet. He is also an undoubted star.

By telling Nigel's story, Monty relates his relationships with the other special dogs in his life in a memoir traced through dogs past and very much present.

Witty, touching and life-affirming, Nigel: My Family and Other Dogs is a wonderfully heart-warming testimony to man’s best friend and the impact of these four-legged friends on our lives.

Monty Don is a great writer taking time out of the garden to step into the hearts and homes of every dog lover in the UK.

'I have always had a dog, or dogs. I cannot imagine life without them. I am just as much a fan of Nigel as any besotted viewer. In the book I explore why we love dogs and what they mean to us emotionally and domestically. I look back on all the dogs in my life - all of which I have loved deeply and which have been an essential part of my life. So, this is the book of Nigel - but also the book of all our dogs in every British family and a celebration of the deep love we feel for them' - Monty Don

'Charming, affecting and often beautiful’ - India Knight