Overview

""A testament to friendship, illness and the love of a good dog. Everyone who has faced illness will recognise themselves here."" Astrid Edwards, Chair of Judges for 2025 Stella Prize At fifty, Libby has spent years concealing the impact of multiple sclerosis, increasingly viewing life from the sidelines. When her childhood friend Emma persuades her to adopt a headstrong rescue dog, Libby has no idea how profoundly the decision will reshape them both. As Libby struggles to manage Bounty's exuberance, she is drawn into a local dog-park community and meets extraordinary people, including Maina, who is living with advanced multiple sclerosis. Confronted with a future she would rather not imagine, Libby retreats. But Bounty, relentless and unyielding, leads her back. When Emma reveals her own devastating diagnosis, their roles are abruptly reversed. Libby must find the strength to become the friend Emma now needs-with Bounty as her unlikely guide. Told with warmth and candour, Bounty explores friendship, illness and the healing power of a very determined dog.

Full Product Details

9783988322081

Table of Contents

Reviews

""In Bounty, Lancaster captures the daily doubts of living with chronic illness, and the uncertainty as to whether a body can ever be trusted. She also reminds us of what it takes to choose to live in and engage with the world. This intimate memoir is a testament to friendship, illness and the love of a good dog. Everyone who has faced illness will recognise themselves here."" Astrid Edwards, Chair of Judges for 2025 Stella Prize ""From the moment we are introduced to Bounty, the author's newly acquired rescue terrier, this charming and captivating memoir takes hold. At its heart lies a story about friendship-its intimacies, demands and consolations. Central to the narrative is Emma, Elizabeth's lifelong friend, who encourages her to adopt Bounty in the hope of restoring her fitness. The instant he barrels into her life, he becomes an agent of change: long-established patterns are disrupted and reshaped, relationships recalibrated, and dynamics subtly altered. When Emma's life takes a tragic turn, it is Bounty-attuned, sensitive and steadfast-who offers Elizabeth her deepest solace. With its sharp insights into friendship, illness, and grief, this beguiling and deeply moving memoir pays tribute to the mysteries, upheavals and unexpected graces that shape every life."" Nadine Davidoff, Freelance editor ""Elizabeth Lancaster's memoir is a poignant message about the pervasive effects of a chronic illness, the benefits and risks of standard therapies, the vital importance of connection and the increasingly recognised medical and emotional benefits of companion animals."" Dr Ross Walker, best-selling author of Host of Healthy Living, Radio-Nine Network; Consultant cardiologist

Author Information

Elizabeth is an Australian author. She began her working life as an occupational therapist but changed direction after attending a writing course in New York City, while living there with her husband and two children. After a shock diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, writing would provide her with a much-needed lifeline. Her first book, Marzipan and Magnolias, won the inaugural Finch Memoir Prize. Elizabeth continues to write humorous and engaging stories about life, loss and relationships. She lives in Sydney with her husband. Visit: elizabethlancaster.com.au

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