Book written by OC professor receives critical acclaim

A book written by an Okanagan College English professor has received critical acclaim.

The concept of Bite the Hand that Reads: Dickens, Animals and Sanitary Reform by Terry Scarborough sprung from a classroom discussion in English 231: Studies in Popular Culture.

“I actually wrote the abstract for the conference in class, so students observed this come together in front of them,” he said. “It just took off from there.”

Scarborough gave several presentations unpacking animals in Charles Dickens’ work, which led to a publishing contract with Edward Everett Root Publishers.

The book, published in 2021, explores animals with a specific focus on their role in shaping attitudes towards poverty, particularly around filth and disease.

It created waves in academic circles and can be found in university libraries across North America, including University of Toronto, Brock, Trent, Simon Fraser, MIT, Princeton, UCLA, Yale and Stanford.

When Scarborough learned that scholarly journals were beginning to read through the body of work, he prepared himself to be humbled.

“Academic reviews are a genre unto themselves, and Dickens Quarterly is among the most prestigious publications in Victorian studies,” he explained.

“I was terrified when I found out they were reviewing my book.”

In the review, Dickens Quarterly lauded Scarborough’s book, saying “the approach is novel and produces astute readings.

Scarborough said he could not have asked for more.

“Receiving a glowing review from this publication really means the effort was worth it,” he explained. “With this type of work, there are always ways to improve, but after time, I honestly feel proud of my work.”

“It’s a nice feeling.”