Pippa Thomson answers “Animals seem to be a constant on this...”

Mª Magdalena asked this question about Life After Life (Todd Family, #1):

Animals seem to be a constant on this book, sometimes they're crucial to the development of Ursula's life. The rabbits, foxes and dogs in Fox (FOX!) Corner keep dying and living as Ursula does. Also, many many times characters are compared to certain animals, or called after them. My question is why this insistance on animals? Why is this important for Atkinson?

Pippa Thomson Atkinson may have included animals to such a high extent because she herself may like animals. There is a line in the book where Ursula thinks to hers…moreAtkinson may have included animals to such a high extent because she herself may like animals. There is a line in the book where Ursula thinks to herself that everyone in her family attributed emotions to dogs, except Maurice. Do you think it is possible that Atkinson is simply an animal lover and trying to attribute the love of animals, dogs in particular, to the merit in some of her characters. She also further singles out Maurice as an even worse moral compass. Being an absolute dog lover I could see how Atkinson was making sure a dog was always present in the Todd's lives. They were always part of the family.

As for Ms Woolf, it seems as though she has been given the name to juxtaposition this character against Hitler. In the 'Authors Note' she say that Ms Woolf is the "moral compass" of the book which is why she is placed at its epicentre during the Blitz years. Atkinson writes the Ursula "transforms" into Ms Woolf. It also brings to question that, without human interference, would the earth be so full of danger, hate and awful suffering. Is it a primarily human response to feel emotions, and if so how can such atrocities be committed. (less)

flag

About Goodreads Q&A

Ask and answer questions about books!

You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.

See Featured Authors Answering Questions

Learn more