People
Prose books are the show dogs I breed and sell to support my cat.
— Robert Graves • NY Times 13 Jul 1958
Behind the line May contain spoilers.
Our reading
An editorial interpretation.
The comparison treats prose books as valuable show animals bred for sale, with the proceeds supporting something else the speaker cherishes. Dogs and a cat give the financial relationship a domestic, comic scale. The metaphor separates earning a living from whatever makes that earning worthwhile.
Context reviewed