George Graham Vest
The Life and Times of Dog's Best Friend
Retail Price: $26.95
Although the saying “Dog is man’s best friend,” is well known, the man who originally coined the phrase is less celebrated in modern times. However, in the late 1800s, George Graham Vest was a distinguished attorney and politician widely admired for his skills in oration and debate.
George Graham Vest—The Life and Times of Dog’s Best Friend provides a detailed look at Vest, who was born and raised in Frankfort, Kentucky but later practiced law in central Missouri, serving the “Show Me State” in the Missouri House of Representatives, the Confederate Congress, the Confederate Senate, and later the U.S. Senate, with more than 30 years in public office.
Vest was known as a champion for the rights of Native Americans, helped establish Yellowstone National Park, and was called a man of genius by his contemporaries whose skill in debate was never equaled.
Written by Stephen M. Vest, a descendant who is also known for his command of the English language, George Graham Vest—The Life and Times of Dog’s Best Friend is a fitting biography to one of America’s best statesmen, long overdue.
About The Author
Photographer
Reviews
“Steve Vest, editor and publisher of Kentucky Monthly Magazine for the past quarter century, has spent three decades researching his cousin, George Graham Vest. Steve’s honored ancestor was born in Frankfort, Ky., served in Jefferson Davis’ Confederate Congress and was a United States senator from Missouri. At last, we have the full story of the man credited with the phrase “Dog is man’s best friend.”
-Russ Hatter, Frankfort’s long-time city historianReviews
“He [G.G. Vest] is one of the most remarkable and picturesque men this country has produced. His remarkable and original genius, his conspicuously independent intellect, and his absolute fearlessness have placed him peculiarly in a class by himself.”
-Henry M. Rose, Chief Clerk of the U.S. Senate (1905-1932)Reviews
“The one absolutely unselfish friend that a man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him and the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous, is his dog … faithful and true even to death.”
-George Graham Vest, “Eulogy of the Dog”, 1870Illustrator
Book Details
Author: Stephen M. VestProduct Dimensions: 6" x 9"
ISBN: 978-1-956027-79-2
Cover Type: Hardcover
Case Quantity:
Book Tours
Kentucky Book FairStephen M. Vest will be sign books:
Founded as the Kentucky Book Fair by journalist Carl West (1942-2016), the event was held in Frankfort for more than 30 years. Before becoming editor of Frankfort’s State Journal, Carl West became recognized in Frankfort and Washington, D.C. as an aggressive and intelligent reporter. West spent time as a Frankfort correspondent for the Kentucky Post and then covered the White House and Pentagon for the Scripps Howard News Service. His work with the National Press Club’s Book Fair in Washington inspired West to establish a similar event in Frankfort, the state capitol, and in 1981, the first Kentucky Book Fair was held at the Kentucky Dept. for Libraries and Archives building.
Book Tours
Festival of Books - Bluegrass Writers CoalitionStephen M. Vest will be singing books:
The Foundry 317 W Broadway St, Frankfort, KY 40601
Book Tours
Poor Richard’s Bookstore, Frankfort (Candlelight Tour)Stephen M. Vest signing books at Poor Richard’s Bookstore, 233 W Broadway St., Frankfort KY during the Candlelight Tour.
Book Tours
Cats & Dogs, Headley-Whitney MuseumStephen M. Vest will be holding a book signing and talk at the DOGS & CATS: An Exhibition.
Headley-Whitney Museum of Art
4435 Old Frankfort Pike
Lexington, Ky 40510
859.255.6653
Book Tours
Louisville Genealogical Society“George Graham Vest: The Life and Times of Dog’s Best Friend” (Program)
In Person – at the corner of 1000 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy and Linn Station Rd.
Presented by: Stephen Vest
George Graham Vest, a cousin of Stephen, is best known for coining the phrase “Dog is man’s best friend.” George Vest has many Kentucky connections. He is the Vest in Frankfort’s Vest-Lindsey House, which is located at the corner of Wapping and Washington. He graduated from Centre College and Transylvania Law School.
Stephen M. Vest, who has spoken to the Louisville Genealogical Society in the past, is a native of Louisville, and a graduate of the University of Louisville. He and his wife, Kay, live in Frankfort, where they operate Kentucky Monthly Magazine. They have four grown children, the oldest of which was also born in Louisville.