“Once you have had a wonderful dog, a life without one is a life diminished. These sage and almost divinely inspired words of American author, Dean Koontz (born 1945), vehemently reverberate with ardent dog-lovers throughout the world. We doggie owners and fans, who are scattered liberally across planet earth, react to his words by inwardly acknowledging to ourselves ‘he gets it!’

Certainly Koontz’s life-affirming words, regarding the myriad of blessings that dogs bring to our lives, ricochet lovingly throughout the pages of English dog lover, entrepreneur and author, James Middleton’s, (yes for those of you wondering, he is a much-loved member of ‘that’ Middleton family in England, and an adored younger brother to the classy and stoic Catherine, Princess of Wales), memoir, Meet Ella.

Despite the undeniably extensive wealth and privilege that James (a fiercely intelligent, thoughtful and reflective young man) was born into, he struggled academically at the exclusive Marlborough College as a boarding student. Visits home to the Middleton’s opulent country estate, Bucklebury Manor, (located in the idyllically situated civil parish of Bucklebury in the English county of Berkshire) were always a heavenly balm for James’s troubles, pertaining to boarding school life (James suffered from dyslexia and was cruelly bullied at school). An adored and loving golden retriever, the Middleton’s family dog, Tilly, was James’s trusted friend and confidante throughout many stormy and unpredictable times.

James tells we readers that “I do so badly in my final school exams – including setting a humiliating school record of failing chemistry A-level (senior) four times – that my poor mum is reduced to tears. Dad says my expensive education has been ‘a waste of money’ “.

Whilst at Edinburgh University, James comes to be the besotted and proud owner of and ‘Dad’ to a beautiful, devoted and caring black cocker spaniel dog, Ella. James knows, of Ella, that “From the second I hold her, I am in love”.

Ella is a godsend for James, for she is “inherently amiable, relatable, kind – but of course she’s much more than that. She’s a dog who touches the hearts of all who know her, a dog of such acute intelligence that she intuits mood and, I believe, understands people’s feelings”.

Soon Ella is accompanying James everywhere – “business meetings (he’s running a cake-making business by this stage) in London”, medical appointments and to dinner parties.

James explains “The fact is that, thanks to Ella, I am more sociable. Because of her, I strike up conversations with strangers in the street. The subject I love most is my dog, and if others share my enthusiasm, we enjoy happy impromptu chats” (all doggie parents and doggie family members and friends can relate!).

Whilst on a visit to America, James finds “There was a bat squeak of recognition that something was wrong with me, but I didn’t know what it was”.

Isolating himself from his girlfriend, Donna, family and friends, “I became more and more insular”, James finds himself burdened with the unwelcome visitor of depression (or the ‘black dog’ as fellow sufferer, British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill (1874-1965) once so accurately named the unenviable ‘cloak’ of darkness that depression brings into one’s life).

James “felt perpetually exhausted, and what little reserves of energy I had I put into working….Then I started losing sleep…..I didn’t want to see anyone because I felt dull. The colour had ebbed out of my life. Everything was black and white. And I had no idea what was going on”. 

Withdrawing into himself meant that phone calls to James were not answered, emails were not replied to and knocks on the door were not attended to. 

For James “the torture was the chasm between outward appearances and reality. Everything about my life looked perfect – a flourishing business, beautiful girlfriend, loving family – but inside my mind was chaos (there was also alarming anxiety experienced by James) and I had absolutely no idea why”.

It is only Ella’s staunch love and support for James that persuades him to not take his life when he is on the icy precipice for doing so.

“I…..see my spaniel Ella’s gentle eyes looking up at me. ….She senses my strange, agitated state of mind….”

James looks at Ella and thinks bravely, with a jolt,  “What would Ella do without me? She depends on me and I on her, and the chain of thought makes me pause”.

For James, “She (Ella) is the reason I do not take that fatal leap. She is Ella, the dog who saved my life”.

James does get the treatment he has been crying out for from a wonderful psychiatrist in London, Dr Pereira. And Ella loyally accompanies James to each and every visit. As well as having depression, James is diagnosed as having ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder). Through all his trials, James constant is “My beloved dog…at my side”.

There is so much more in this human and dog memoir that uplifts the spirits and soothes the soul. These include James and Ella’s sublime sojourns to the Lake District, known internationally for it’s picturesque lakes, mountains and coast (Ella loves to climb mountains with James). Also James and Ella on the red carpet at a flashy event and Ella even ‘introducing’ James to his now French wife, Alizee.

Of course, there are sporadic mentions of James’s family (including the Queen, Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales) as well as James’s other cherished dogs. Yet it is most definitely Ella who takes centre-stage in James’s life (apart from his wife) when she is alive.

James credits Ella with his life, saying “My life was so full of torment I felt suicidal. Only Ella gave me cause to keep living. She brought about this wonderful transition in me from despair to hope”.

And so, as much as being James’s story, “Meet Ella”, is a love-letter to humankind’s most loyal, devoted and fiercely-loving companion – the eternally trustworthy and unconditionally-loving, dog. In this exquisite memoir, that dog is Ella.

James reflects, “We think we are caring for them, but actually, in their own way, they are the ones who are looking after us.

Meet Ella will have you alternately crying, cheering, smiling and laughing. This magnificent book exudes intelligence, insight and wisdom.

Bravo James! You have been most brave in sharing your mental health journey and brought joy to many lives in sharing Ella with the world through the soul-stirring book, Meet Ella.

This book will capture the hearts of dog-lovers (there are so many of us out there!), those needing help for their mental-health challenges and those who want to be transported mentally to the timeless wilds of England. 

Meet Ella is a balm for the soul in these troubled and uncertain times. It’s five stars from me. I loved every second of reading this exceptional book.