The real Poilus: Colette’s war dogs

Abstract

ABSTRACT Although Colette was one of the first women to report from the frontlines, many literary critics have, until recently, dismissed her journalistic pieces as not worthy of serious study. These short prose essays, published for the most part in Le Matin, offer us insight into the impact of World War I on French society, in particular on women and children. Colette also wrote several essays about the military war dogs who served alongside the poilus in the trenches. In this study, I will examine Colette’s portrayal of these military war dogs as an example of necessary anthropomorphism. In short, Colette’s reporting shows these canine warriors to be the equals of their human comrades, sentient beings capable of agency and whose contributions immeasurably supported the French war effort. These profiles show that Colette was more than a mere animal lover and was in fact an animal rights activist before her time.