It's unusual to profile a major literary figure by discussing his pets, but this engaging work offers more than such an approach might suggest. Many of the numerous b&w photos do feature Hemingway with one or another cat (or dog, or an owl), but others depict family scenes and home interiors and exteriors that invite a close, personal view. The text emphasizes the pet theme but is generally biographical, incorporating much about early years, wives, and changing domestic situations. The author is a newspaper editor and publisher in southwest Florida and has a 30-year history of research on Hemingway's life in Key West, Bimini, and Cuba. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)