Robert Parkinson: I Work With Animals

I Work With Animals
by Robert Parkinson

In I Work With Animals, Robert Parkinson reflects on family, labour, and identity through an unflinching yet tender exploration of his father’s past as a slaughterman. Inspired by a family archive rediscovered in an old plastic bag, Parkinson presents a collection of postcards, photographs, and letters from his father’s time working in Norwegian abattoirs—a job that not only sustained his family but also shaped their history.

The book juxtaposes candid snapshots of camaraderie among workers with visceral images of the labour itself: blood-stained aprons, hanging carcasses, and raw, unfiltered scenes from the slaughterhouse. While shocking, these photographs transcend mere documentation of industrial labour. They serve as a stark reminder of the realities behind meat consumption and the distance modern society places between itself and the origins of its food.

Through his father’s lens, Parkinson captures a profound sense of pride and resilience. At its core, I Work With Animals is both a deeply personal family history and a broader meditation on working-class life. This intimate, sharply observed publication offers readers an opportunity to confront their own assumptions about labour, ethics, and heritage, all while honouring the unsung stories of those whose work sustains us.

I Work With Animals
Robert Parkinson
Ceremony Press, November 2024
Silver Foil Hardcover, 50 pages
240 x 130 mm
1st Edition of 100
RRP £40