Bozdech is a Czech who wanted to fight against the Nazis during WWII. That desire brought him to sign up with the RAF, and he picked up an Alsatian pup along the way. Antis became quite the celebrity, and every award and moment of recognition was well earned. The dog was a hero not only during the war, but he also helped Bozdech escape from the Czech communist regime. Bozdech had to leave his wife and son behind, and he was never able to go back to his homeland again.
This isn't the first book I've read about Antis and his owner. I'd read One Man and His Dog by Anthony Richardson in the past. The reason I bring it up is because the book is also mentioned here. Apparently, Bozdech wasn't happy with the finished product of One Man and His Dog. When I read that one, I was curious where the author got his information. It appears he was given a manuscript by Bozdech, but Richardson changed some of the writing. Examples are given. It's also worth noting that One Man and His Dog has more reviews, so it seems like it was more popular than this one.
I looked at the acknowledgments for this book, and the first one is to Bozdech's wife. He was given access to documents, manuscripts and audio tapes. The structure of it is also different than I'd initially expected. I'd break it into three parts: Bozdech and Antis, Bozdech after Antis, and the evolution of Czech politics near the end of Bozdech's life and after his death.
Overall, I liked this book. I think if you temper your expectations that you're not reading a whole book about Antis, it's a good read. Once I caught on to the structure, I liked that it followed Bozdech after the war. It followed both heroes to the grave. Good Book!
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