Black Shuck & Cerberus

Good Boys of Legend

 S.H. Cooper’s Inheriting Her Ghosts has it all; a strong female lead, a creepy setting, ghosts and, of course, two Very Good Boys. If you’ve been following our promo week for this book, you’ll have noticed a lot of references going around to Man’s Best Friend, from our partnership to Texas ChainPaw Massacre to the giveaway which asked for pictures of our followers’ pets as an entry requirement. After all, any excuse to celebrate dogs (among other pets, of course!) is always welcome.

In the book, the two Irish Wolfhounds are presented as loyal, fierce pets who protect Eudora, so how much do they share in common with their namesakes?

Of the two, Cerberus is perhaps more well known. The guardian of the Greek Underworld, the Hound of Hades, a three-headed dog that stops the dead from leaving. There have been a number of reimagining’s of this pupper, from Disney’s Hercules to the game Hades, which may present him originally as a scary guardian, but ultimately show him to have a softer side.

The comedy from Cerberus’ portrayal comes from his utter dogness; his reaction to being petted, or the way he devours food, while showing how fierce dogs can be, and protective when it comes to their family. Cerberus may have three heads, three sets of teeth to bear, six eyes to track down prey, but ultimately, it means three heads to scratch, three tongues lolling, and six eyes to guard you with. 

Black Shuck is less well known. But if you have heard tales of ‘Black Dogs’ or dog-shaped omens that foretell death, you know Shuck. Shuck has also been immortalised in the Sherlock stories – what else could the Hound of the Baskervilles be? 

Black Shuck is said to have red eyes, bared teeth, shaggy black fur. There are various accounts of Shuck’s appearance (which you can read on Wikipedia) including one in which he appeared in a church, in 1577, killing two praying parishioners and even leaving scorch marks which can be seen to this day.

Shuck has also been linked to the Wild Hunt, found in Northern European folklore. These ghostly dogs are tied into the supernatural, and when you see demonic dogs or hear about the presence of a huge black dog indicating death, it’s likely because of Black Shuck, from the folklore of Nurfolk, Suffolk, and Essex.

Eudora’s dogs are living, breathing Irish Wolfhounds, but they have elements in common with their namesakes. Where the Greek Cerberus guards the dead, Eudora’s Cerberus guards the living from the dead. The appearance of Black Shuck foretells death, but Eudora’s Shuck warns her of approaching ghosts. 

They’re two excellent names for two very good boys, and very fitting for them, too. So what are you waiting for? Pick up a copy of S.H. Cooper’s Inheriting Her Ghosts and meet these Irish Wolfhounds for yourself. 

By Elle Turpitt

Twitter & Instagram: @elleturpitt

Website: elleturpitt.com