James goes to the dogs

[Doug Millison]

Not to nit-pick, although Heaven knows this is a forum where little  
things can take on awesome significance, I actually wrote "Pynchon, in  
putting a novel by Henry James in the hands of a canine reader, seems  
to be making a point about that author, or his art, or both." I don't  
know how I could have been more vague or inclusive.   But I didn't and  
don't write "it must mean something" as Mark K says, because I don't  
believe it "must mean something," I'm as happy to let Pynchon's phrase  
not mean anything in particular, I can enjoy it just for the music of  
his narration of this detail of ATD, for the chuckle that arises at  
the sight of a dog reading a novelist as refined as James. It doesn't  
have to mean anything more than what it is on its face, for me to  
enjoy it at this level.

If as if the Petillon passage Dave Monroe so helpfully provides might  
suggest, Pynchon takes to heart James' method, perhaps via Pugnax he's  
looking lovingly into his Master's gaze.  Or maybe not.  As TRP say,  
which do you want it to be?