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A Dog of Flanders
Marie Louise de la Ramée (1839-1908) wrote many popular novels of adventure and romance in the 1870s and 80s under the pen name of Ouida. She also produced a number of captivating stories for youngsters. One of the best, A Dog of Flanders,. First published in 1872, A Dog of Flanders tells the moving story of Nello, a gentle boy with aspirations of becoming a painter, and Patrasche — his devoted Belgian work dog. The two, along with Nello's grandfather, live in a little village near Antwerp where Nello's idol, the artist Rubens, once worked. Nello and Patrasche suffer countless hardships — poverty, hunger, cruelty, and rejection. But they persevere in the face of adversity, up to their tragic, bittersweet end.
Rich in the sentiment of its Romantic tradition, yet convincing in its portrayal of both human and animal nature, this touching classic has tugged at the heartstrings of readers and listeners alike for generations. It remains one of the nineteenth century's most imaginative and arresting works of fiction for children.
Rich in the sentiment of its Romantic tradition, yet convincing in its portrayal of both human and animal nature, this touching classic has tugged at the heartstrings of readers and listeners alike for generations. It remains one of the nineteenth century's most imaginative and arresting works of fiction for children.
80 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1872
122 people are currently reading
1523 people want to read
About the author
Ouida
1,060 books56 followersOuida was the pen name of the English novelist Maria Louise Ramé (although she preferred to be known as Marie Louise de la Ramée).
During her career, she wrote more than 40 novels, children's books and collections of short stories and essays. She was an animal rights activist and animal rescuer, and at times owned as many as thirty dogs. For many years she lived in London, but about 1874 she went to Italy, where she died.
Ouida's work went through several phases during her career. In her early period, her novels were a hybrid of the sensationalism of the 1860s and the proto-adventure novels dubbed "muscular fiction" that were emerging in part as a romanticization of imperial expansion. Later her work was more along the lines of historical romance, though she never stopped comment on contemporary society. She also wrote several stories for children. One of her most famous novels, Under Two Flags, described the British in Algeria in the most extravagant of terms, while nonetheless also expressing sympathy for the Frenchwith whom Ouida deeply identifiedand, to some extent, the Arabs. This book went on to be staged in plays, and subsequently to be turned into at least three movies, transitioning Ouida in the 20th century.
Jack London cites her novel Signa, which describes an unschooled Italian peasant child who achieves fame as an opera composer, and which he read at age eight, as one of the eight reasons for his literary success.
During her career, she wrote more than 40 novels, children's books and collections of short stories and essays. She was an animal rights activist and animal rescuer, and at times owned as many as thirty dogs. For many years she lived in London, but about 1874 she went to Italy, where she died.
Ouida's work went through several phases during her career. In her early period, her novels were a hybrid of the sensationalism of the 1860s and the proto-adventure novels dubbed "muscular fiction" that were emerging in part as a romanticization of imperial expansion. Later her work was more along the lines of historical romance, though she never stopped comment on contemporary society. She also wrote several stories for children. One of her most famous novels, Under Two Flags, described the British in Algeria in the most extravagant of terms, while nonetheless also expressing sympathy for the Frenchwith whom Ouida deeply identifiedand, to some extent, the Arabs. This book went on to be staged in plays, and subsequently to be turned into at least three movies, transitioning Ouida in the 20th century.
Jack London cites her novel Signa, which describes an unschooled Italian peasant child who achieves fame as an opera composer, and which he read at age eight, as one of the eight reasons for his literary success.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 183 reviews
August 11, 2022
This heart-wrenchingly tragic, classic, Flemish tale is oddly sentimental for a children's story. Marie Louise de la Ramée wrote many adventure romance stories during her time using the pen name Ouida. Of these tales, A Dog of Flanders is considered the best. I agree it's a good book, but it seems out-of-place for a children's story. Most fables for children are not quite so morose. The narrative relates the tale of a poor boy named Nello, and his Belgian dog named Patrasche who comes into the hands of Nello after having received such a thorough beating that he was near death. Nello and his grandfather despite their indigence nurse Patrasche to health, and consequently, acquire the affection, loyalty, and devotion of the rescued beast. As the years pass, the mutual affection deepens. When an art contest is announced, Nello's aspiration to be a professional artist the caliber of Rubens his idol gets triggered and Nello places all of his efforts into that one laudable goal. However, some of the villagers decide to present themselves as active obstacles to Nello's success, including the father of his pretty friend. Good story, but I don't like it as a children's story. Still, it's a classic IMHO because it meets my criteria.
September 18, 2016
It was by chance that this book suddenly came to mind as I browsed the list of books tagged under Goodreads’ Classics category. I watched the Japanese anime series adaptation of A Dog of Flanders as a kid, and if I hadn’t seen the movie The Land Before Time beforehand and witnessed a character die for the first time, Nello and Patrasche’s story would have been the very first children’s narrative to ever shatter my faith in “happily ever afters”.
Reading the original story now made me realize that the lives of Nello and Patrasche are indeed heartbreaking, though not perpetually tragic as I’d first thought. They have been mostly quite content with their lot and have easily carried the burden of poverty with their optimism and togetherness. They have grown up to be work partners and shared their innermost thoughts like what best friends do.
Patrasche gives us his own account of happiness for finally finding a true family in Nello and his grandfather, after years of knowing only cruelty from a previous master. He vows to be loyal and to serve his new human wholeheartedly, a task he has fulfilled until his dying breath. I’m a dog lover, and so I wholeheartedly agree with Ouida/Marie Louise de la Ramée’s depiction of Patrasche’s undivided faithfulness and acuity. There was a time when a dog had shown the same absolute affection to me and made me realize that while people you’ve known your whole life may sometimes turn their back on you, dogs will loyally remain by your side and be your comfortable silence.
Nello is given the liberty to dream as children do, to imagine an ideal future in which he is rich and famous, or not looked down at because of his social standing. He is kind, fair and wise, and has developed a great talent for creating art. He cherishes his friendship with rich girl Alois and is devastated when Alois’s father (who admires Nello's goodhearted nature but loathes his destitution) has forbidden any future meeting between them. Despite the tragic circumstances that befell him, Nello continues to tread on kindness and hope.
The good fortune that eluded Nello and Patrasche through the years has finally come knocking at their door; only, it has come several hours too late. As a child watching that sad anime ending so many years ago, I used to think that both life and death had been cruel to Nello and Patrasche. While the book offers the same miserable conclusion, I now find a new light in this tragic story—that of Nello finally fulfilling his greatest dream of seeing a Rubens artwork, and of Patrasche dying in the arms of the boy he has loved and served unconditionally. For me, such insight makes a much more bearable conclusion to the story.
Reading the original story now made me realize that the lives of Nello and Patrasche are indeed heartbreaking, though not perpetually tragic as I’d first thought. They have been mostly quite content with their lot and have easily carried the burden of poverty with their optimism and togetherness. They have grown up to be work partners and shared their innermost thoughts like what best friends do.
Patrasche gives us his own account of happiness for finally finding a true family in Nello and his grandfather, after years of knowing only cruelty from a previous master. He vows to be loyal and to serve his new human wholeheartedly, a task he has fulfilled until his dying breath. I’m a dog lover, and so I wholeheartedly agree with Ouida/Marie Louise de la Ramée’s depiction of Patrasche’s undivided faithfulness and acuity. There was a time when a dog had shown the same absolute affection to me and made me realize that while people you’ve known your whole life may sometimes turn their back on you, dogs will loyally remain by your side and be your comfortable silence.
Nello is given the liberty to dream as children do, to imagine an ideal future in which he is rich and famous, or not looked down at because of his social standing. He is kind, fair and wise, and has developed a great talent for creating art. He cherishes his friendship with rich girl Alois and is devastated when Alois’s father (who admires Nello's goodhearted nature but loathes his destitution) has forbidden any future meeting between them. Despite the tragic circumstances that befell him, Nello continues to tread on kindness and hope.
The good fortune that eluded Nello and Patrasche through the years has finally come knocking at their door; only, it has come several hours too late. As a child watching that sad anime ending so many years ago, I used to think that both life and death had been cruel to Nello and Patrasche. While the book offers the same miserable conclusion, I now find a new light in this tragic story—that of Nello finally fulfilling his greatest dream of seeing a Rubens artwork, and of Patrasche dying in the arms of the boy he has loved and served unconditionally. For me, such insight makes a much more bearable conclusion to the story.
October 20, 2017
It's amazing that this was published 145 years ago. It holds up fairly well. Like anything from over a century ago, there are some words not often used any more, so reading the ebook where you can highlight words that are unfamiliar and look them up quickly is helpful. I received a free copy of the Open Road Media edition from their Early Bird Books newsletter a while back, but I see that it's now available for $.99. I'm not sure I'd buy a stand-alone copy because it's only about 35 pages long. At heart, it's a love story between a boy and his dog, and was probably quite ahead of it's time in 1872 when all animals worked harder than the pampered pets of today (including the one that lives in my home and wears a squeaky cowboy hat on his head in my profile picture). So it's dated in many ways, including the sainted, noble respresentation of poverty often found in 19th century literature, but it's worth a read.
December 5, 2020
04/12/2020
I was born and raised in Antwerp. On a square inf front of the cathedral there is a statue of Nello and Patrache, lying covered in the snow on the ground. I never read the story, despite loving the statue so much. I'm glad I finally know where the statue stands for, even if it's a sad story! It's a short and quick read, and fun to read a story taking place in the city that I grew up in.
I was born and raised in Antwerp. On a square inf front of the cathedral there is a statue of Nello and Patrache, lying covered in the snow on the ground. I never read the story, despite loving the statue so much. I'm glad I finally know where the statue stands for, even if it's a sad story! It's a short and quick read, and fun to read a story taking place in the city that I grew up in.
January 1, 2017
Free audiobook available at LibriVox.
Free download available at Project Gutenberg.
Opening lines:
Nello and Patrasche were left all alone in the world.
They were friends in a friendship closer than brotherhood. Nello was a little Ardennois—Patrasche was a big Fleming. They were both of the same age by length of years, yet one was still young, and the other was already old. They had dwelt together almost all their days: both were orphaned and destitute, and owed their lives to the same hand. It had been the beginning of the tie between them, their first bond of sympathy; and it had strengthened day by day, and had grown with their growth, firm and indissoluble, until they loved one another very greatly.
A very beautiful but sad story. It reminds me the beautiful and unforgettable movie Hachi: A Dog's Tale (2009) with Richard Gere and Joan Allen.
From Wikipedia:
The story, of English origin, has not been read widely in Belgium, but is becoming better known because of the tourists it attracts to Antwerp. There is a small statue of Nello and Patrasche at the Kapelstraat in the Antwerp suburb of Hoboken, and a commemorative plaque in front of the Antwerp Cathedral donated by Toyota. The story is widely read in Japan, and has been adapted into several films and anime.
A movie A Dog of Flanders (1999) was made based on this book.
Free download available at Project Gutenberg.
Opening lines:
Nello and Patrasche were left all alone in the world.
They were friends in a friendship closer than brotherhood. Nello was a little Ardennois—Patrasche was a big Fleming. They were both of the same age by length of years, yet one was still young, and the other was already old. They had dwelt together almost all their days: both were orphaned and destitute, and owed their lives to the same hand. It had been the beginning of the tie between them, their first bond of sympathy; and it had strengthened day by day, and had grown with their growth, firm and indissoluble, until they loved one another very greatly.
A very beautiful but sad story. It reminds me the beautiful and unforgettable movie Hachi: A Dog's Tale (2009) with Richard Gere and Joan Allen.
From Wikipedia:
The story, of English origin, has not been read widely in Belgium, but is becoming better known because of the tourists it attracts to Antwerp. There is a small statue of Nello and Patrasche at the Kapelstraat in the Antwerp suburb of Hoboken, and a commemorative plaque in front of the Antwerp Cathedral donated by Toyota. The story is widely read in Japan, and has been adapted into several films and anime.
A movie A Dog of Flanders (1999) was made based on this book.
January 20, 2015
This is about a boy named Nello and his dog named Patrasche who lived in a small village with their grandfather. Nello dreams to become a great artist and enters a piece in the village's local art contest. Will he win and be able to get the respect of his peers? Read this book for yourself and find out.
This was a pretty good and sad book. I found the book for free at http://www.gutenberg.org and watched an anime film from 1997 by the same name which was pretty good that you can watch on Youtube. If you enjoy stories about friendship and love, definitely check this book out.
This was a pretty good and sad book. I found the book for free at http://www.gutenberg.org and watched an anime film from 1997 by the same name which was pretty good that you can watch on Youtube. If you enjoy stories about friendship and love, definitely check this book out.
August 31, 2022
Published in 1872, this was supposedly a beloved children’s story. It’s tragic, a story of extreme poverty with a very sad ending. Doesn’t seem like the kind of story that today’s children are likely to read or to be read to.
October 17, 2013
This tale is very famous in Japan, and I'm glad that I finally got to read it.
As I was reading it, I felt as if I was treading on the hard, cold road, through the snow, with the winter wind piercing my heart, with sorrow leadening every step.
Still, it was a touching, heartwarming story.
Ouida frequently uses parallelism, sometimes alliteration, and I love her writing style as well as the story itself.
As I was reading it, I felt as if I was treading on the hard, cold road, through the snow, with the winter wind piercing my heart, with sorrow leadening every step.
Still, it was a touching, heartwarming story.
Ouida frequently uses parallelism, sometimes alliteration, and I love her writing style as well as the story itself.
October 31, 2016
"Let us lie down and die together. Men have no need of us, and we are all alone."
This book is so beautiful and well-written that it completely ripped my heart open and left me weeping. The ending was so sad and I was left feeling miserable missing my own deceased GSD.
I listened to the audio book and it is the first audiobook that I finished, so this book is pretty speacial to me.
If you want to read a beautiful classic novella, this book is the perfect choice.
PS:I'd like to thank Dagny for recommending this book to me.
This book is so beautiful and well-written that it completely ripped my heart open and left me weeping. The ending was so sad and I was left feeling miserable missing my own deceased GSD.
I listened to the audio book and it is the first audiobook that I finished, so this book is pretty speacial to me.
If you want to read a beautiful classic novella, this book is the perfect choice.
PS:I'd like to thank Dagny for recommending this book to me.
June 11, 2025
Dokunaklı , sevginin her zaman insandaki ve hayvandaki gücünü anlatan hüzünlü bir hikaye!
Yazdıklarımı bir ara tekrar okudum ve bana yetersiz geldi bu ; kitap sadece 40 sayfalık olsada derinlinlikli. Bu sabah bitirdiğim kitap benliğimi çok meşgul etti açıkcası. Belki biraz anlatmam lazım kitapdan spoiler olacağını düşünmüyorum; Dede ile torunun sevgi dolu ne varki oldukça yoksul yaşamlarında o tatlı köpeğin yeri büyük. Benim en çok kafayı taktığım şey köyün efendisi denilen adamın acımazsızlığını anlatırken bu adama karşı bu kadar zayıf kalan köy halkının bencilliğini göz ardı edemedim açıkcası. Yazar ise önemsememiş.Tamam bu efendi kötü kindar acımasız ne varki karda kışda hasta yaşlı dedenin ve genç çocukla köpeğinin aç susuz evsiz kalmasına göz yuman bu inançlı (sözüm ona) köy halkının tanrıya karşı olan sevgileri de demek bu kadar sahteymiş. Kilisede zavallı çocuğun ve köpekciğin birbirine sıkıca sarılmış buz kesmiş cesetlerini gördüklerinde hepsini nedense bir pişmanlık sarıyor!!! Pek inanacağım bir durum değil! Tam bir leş kargaları gibi toplanıp dizlerini döğen bu sahtekar köy halkı rahibi de bence o köyün efendisi kadar suçlu konumda. Demek istediğim şu şimdi ki zamanda da; daha yanı başımızda bir çok bebek katlediliyor savunmasız bir çok insan öldürülüyor ne varki kimsenin kılı kıpırdamıyor normalleşti kötülük çünkü yeterki bize olmasın egomuza iyi gelen düşünce fakat bu gün komşuya olan yarın bize de olacak ne yazık ki. Yapacak bir şey sadece şapkamızı önümüze koyup biraz daha vicdan yoklaması yapsak nasıl olur acaba!!!! Nerden nereye geldik evet bazen bazı kitaplarda anlatılar beni bu kadar sarsıyor.
Yazdıklarımı bir ara tekrar okudum ve bana yetersiz geldi bu ; kitap sadece 40 sayfalık olsada derinlinlikli. Bu sabah bitirdiğim kitap benliğimi çok meşgul etti açıkcası. Belki biraz anlatmam lazım kitapdan spoiler olacağını düşünmüyorum; Dede ile torunun sevgi dolu ne varki oldukça yoksul yaşamlarında o tatlı köpeğin yeri büyük. Benim en çok kafayı taktığım şey köyün efendisi denilen adamın acımazsızlığını anlatırken bu adama karşı bu kadar zayıf kalan köy halkının bencilliğini göz ardı edemedim açıkcası. Yazar ise önemsememiş.Tamam bu efendi kötü kindar acımasız ne varki karda kışda hasta yaşlı dedenin ve genç çocukla köpeğinin aç susuz evsiz kalmasına göz yuman bu inançlı (sözüm ona) köy halkının tanrıya karşı olan sevgileri de demek bu kadar sahteymiş. Kilisede zavallı çocuğun ve köpekciğin birbirine sıkıca sarılmış buz kesmiş cesetlerini gördüklerinde hepsini nedense bir pişmanlık sarıyor!!! Pek inanacağım bir durum değil! Tam bir leş kargaları gibi toplanıp dizlerini döğen bu sahtekar köy halkı rahibi de bence o köyün efendisi kadar suçlu konumda. Demek istediğim şu şimdi ki zamanda da; daha yanı başımızda bir çok bebek katlediliyor savunmasız bir çok insan öldürülüyor ne varki kimsenin kılı kıpırdamıyor normalleşti kötülük çünkü yeterki bize olmasın egomuza iyi gelen düşünce fakat bu gün komşuya olan yarın bize de olacak ne yazık ki. Yapacak bir şey sadece şapkamızı önümüze koyup biraz daha vicdan yoklaması yapsak nasıl olur acaba!!!! Nerden nereye geldik evet bazen bazı kitaplarda anlatılar beni bu kadar sarsıyor.
November 12, 2016
This story is well-known the world over apart from in Flanders itself (except among the people who live within viewing distance of the fairly recent statue in Hoboken and the ones who remember that Suske en Wiske album, I guess). It's a good and sensitive story, however, that is sure to traumatise your sprogs in a way they will consider formative.
Ouida doesn't seem to have paid much attention during her visit to Flanders, though, and appears to have assembled her version of it (or rather Brabant/Antwerp; none of the things labelled ``Flemish'' in the book—bells, landscape—would be called that idiomatically by locals) from a crappy encyclopedia article, a map with no scale, and stereotypes of the Netherlands. Where she got the names for her characters is anyone's guess. Still, unless you're from here you probably won't even notice.
Ouida doesn't seem to have paid much attention during her visit to Flanders, though, and appears to have assembled her version of it (or rather Brabant/Antwerp; none of the things labelled ``Flemish'' in the book—bells, landscape—would be called that idiomatically by locals) from a crappy encyclopedia article, a map with no scale, and stereotypes of the Netherlands. Where she got the names for her characters is anyone's guess. Still, unless you're from here you probably won't even notice.
July 12, 2022
This was written in 1872 by the author Ouida, real name Maria Louise Rame. A young boy and his grandfather find a dog beaten and left for dead by the side of the road. They take the dog home and nurse him back to health and the boy and the dog become inseparable. It is described as a children's classic. It is a beautiful story but I just don't think I would read it to a child. Too much animal abuse. Toward the end it reminded me of The little match girl.
February 2, 2016
This is such a wonderful, sad tale. I loved the simplicity of the narrative. It is also a timeless story of the limitations imposed on individuals by their circumstances and remind us how much kindness and ugliness can be found in this world.
Highly recommend it.
Highly recommend it.
July 8, 2023
Looking at the cover of this Dover Children’s Thrift Classic, it claims to be: “in easy to read type” The publisher is referring to the actual type font because the actual prose is quite difficult to read, even as an adult.
Author, Ouida, is pastoral with compound, complex sentences in her prose. She wrote during the late 19th century which is reflected in this version. It has not been modernized so the vocabulary will not be familiar to many and the limited dialogue will also sound unusual to contemporary Americans.
Most youngsters will need adults to read along with them. Not just for the language challenges noted above but also because the story is dark. The dog, young boy and old man are all treated poorly and live lives in abject poverty. There are instances of abuse, mocking, lying and a general feeling of misery for much of this short story that feels much longer than it’s 31 pages.
Still, there are opportunities to discuss hope in this darkness: literal scraps of bread, artwork, a tiny shack, a smile, a green cart, and more seemingly insignificant items that sustained 3 lives, until they didn’t.
There’s no HEA in this story; or was there📚
Author, Ouida, is pastoral with compound, complex sentences in her prose. She wrote during the late 19th century which is reflected in this version. It has not been modernized so the vocabulary will not be familiar to many and the limited dialogue will also sound unusual to contemporary Americans.
Most youngsters will need adults to read along with them. Not just for the language challenges noted above but also because the story is dark. The dog, young boy and old man are all treated poorly and live lives in abject poverty. There are instances of abuse, mocking, lying and a general feeling of misery for much of this short story that feels much longer than it’s 31 pages.
Still, there are opportunities to discuss hope in this darkness: literal scraps of bread, artwork, a tiny shack, a smile, a green cart, and more seemingly insignificant items that sustained 3 lives, until they didn’t.
There’s no HEA in this story; or was there📚
September 9, 2012
I don't know why I decided to read this. I knew it would break my heart cause I've seen the anime movie SO many times. I also saw the live action but that ending is totally different from the anime/book.
I do wish the ending would have been ending like in the live action film....but at the same time you can see why its probably better the way it is originally.
The anime film makes me want to cry and the book was the same. Its such a sad story but so good! Its one of those things you read and then you feel you should appreciate life more.
The ending is just so sad for me that Nello was SO close to having a bright future. Maybe he could have married Alois, and he could have gone to art school and become the next Reuben. But its so sad and sweet that he died with his best friend. And the fact that he got to see Reuben's paintings finally.
I really want to watch the anime film again as well. If you are interested in it, it is very faithful to the book. Theres some scenes added in that weren't in the book but so much of it is exact to the book that its an amazing watch. But the book is enough to make me want to cry, so I'll hold off re-reading or watching the anime film anytime soon.
I do wish the ending would have been ending like in the live action film....but at the same time you can see why its probably better the way it is originally.
The anime film makes me want to cry and the book was the same. Its such a sad story but so good! Its one of those things you read and then you feel you should appreciate life more.
The ending is just so sad for me that Nello was SO close to having a bright future. Maybe he could have married Alois, and he could have gone to art school and become the next Reuben. But its so sad and sweet that he died with his best friend. And the fact that he got to see Reuben's paintings finally.
I really want to watch the anime film again as well. If you are interested in it, it is very faithful to the book. Theres some scenes added in that weren't in the book but so much of it is exact to the book that its an amazing watch. But the book is enough to make me want to cry, so I'll hold off re-reading or watching the anime film anytime soon.
October 7, 2011
A great story and yet, such a sad and tragic story too. Definitely not a book of those who hate sad endings.
June 15, 2018
I read millions of times... But every time I read this book, my eyes always rain...
October 11, 2021
Again another book I actually read but I thought .It was really good and Very Heart warming.
June 3, 2013
This European tear-jerker is considered the first modern dog story, published in 1872, by an Englishwoman of French extraction. Ouida, as she called her literary alter-ego, obviously traveled in the Low Countries, for she is conversant with both the Flemish people (city life, country life, general customs) and the foibles of human nature. The tale is frankly sentimental; one wonders if she is making a plea for social reform or communal conscience. I suspect that this story was not well received abroad; the city of Antwerp and the selfish villagers come off quite badly as a result of their shallow attitudes and callous indifference to povery, pain and hunger.
A dog is elevated to having almost human feelings, while an innocent youth is rewarded for his simple faith--only after death. Too late for Society to make amends; all they can do is grant the pair a single grave.
I suspect that few 21st century teens would appreciate this syrupy tale of Patrasche's devotion and Nello's artistic apotheosis. Still the book may strike a responsive chord in the hearts of sensitive readers of all ages, which would be a good read-aloud story for bedtime. This emotional tragedy highlights the art of the Baroque master, Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640). This Dover PB edition contains the original pen and ink sketches, which greatly enhance the story and our ability to "see" the characters.
(April 30, 2013. I welcome dialogue with teachers.)
A dog is elevated to having almost human feelings, while an innocent youth is rewarded for his simple faith--only after death. Too late for Society to make amends; all they can do is grant the pair a single grave.
I suspect that few 21st century teens would appreciate this syrupy tale of Patrasche's devotion and Nello's artistic apotheosis. Still the book may strike a responsive chord in the hearts of sensitive readers of all ages, which would be a good read-aloud story for bedtime. This emotional tragedy highlights the art of the Baroque master, Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640). This Dover PB edition contains the original pen and ink sketches, which greatly enhance the story and our ability to "see" the characters.
(April 30, 2013. I welcome dialogue with teachers.)
June 10, 2015
I don't remember which edition of Ouida's book I read when I was 10 or 12 - probably a cheap Scholastic Book Club version - but I'll never forget the impression its tragic ending made on me. I'd read stories that made me feel sad before, of course - Velveteen Rabbit and Charlotte's Web among them. Maybe because this was a longer read, I got more deeply into it, and the effect was all the more devastating. I submitted a poem to my Sunday school kid's magazine (about an LSD trip, as a matter of fact), and when asked to write a short statement about myself, I declared that I was fascinated by the power of emotion. I kinda cringe at that now, but thinking about how much this book meant to me at the time, I think I know what I meant.
Anyway, it's a cool book, and everybody should read it.
Anyway, it's a cool book, and everybody should read it.
December 17, 2020
I wish I could give more than 5 stars...
I've known about this book since I was a child, but never got around to it.
My loss! But at the age of 70, thanks to Kindle, what was lost has been found.
A simple, sad, beautiful story to teach children about love and faithfulness and to remind us older readers what love and faithfulness is really all about.
Get this book. Read it to your children to give them a Christmas memory and to awaken your own memory.
Whatever holiday you celebrate... Remember.
I've known about this book since I was a child, but never got around to it.
My loss! But at the age of 70, thanks to Kindle, what was lost has been found.
A simple, sad, beautiful story to teach children about love and faithfulness and to remind us older readers what love and faithfulness is really all about.
Get this book. Read it to your children to give them a Christmas memory and to awaken your own memory.
Whatever holiday you celebrate... Remember.
December 30, 2023
Heartbreaking and unforgettable.
Reread on 30th of Decemeber 2023:
And I still love it oh so much.
Reread on 30th of Decemeber 2023:
And I still love it oh so much.
It had taken the one in the loyalty of love, and the other in the innocence of faith, from a world which for love has no recompense and for faith no fulfillment.
January 4, 2015
Tragic. Tragic. Tragic.
August 7, 2016
Nello. Patrasche. "Let us lie down and die together. Men have no need of us, and we are all alone." There.
July 26, 2019
A beautiful and tenderhearted story.
December 21, 2019
‘Patrasche, A Dog of Flanders made in Japan’ documentary: https://youtu.be/1i31xnvLGS4
December 5, 2020
This was such a beautiful and sad book :(
December 8, 2024
Well goodness, if this wasn’t the saddest thing I’ve read in a long time!
October 15, 2024
Oh goodness, this was so sad. By the cover image, it looks like it's meant to be a story for children. There is a moral to it that would make a great discussion, but it's definitely too heartbreaking to read to little ones! I'd like to try reading more by Ouida.
May 18, 2020
Every time I read Ouida, I come away saying how much I love her stories. Having read her "Puck" a couple years ago during my Blondie Birthday May reads, I knew she was a true animal lover because she brought out the goodness of these majestic beings. So I knew "A Dog of Flanders" would be good but I come away having read a wonderful short story of the love of a dog and his people. I cried at the ending and will comment more in my spoiler section below. I look forward to reading about the artist Rubens which inspired the young boy, Nello in this story.
Short story in short- Patrasche, an abused dog finds love and warmth in the poor Jehan and his grandson, Nello. Nello dreams of a future of success and Patrasche gives friendship and devotion to his friends.
I did not read this edition but from a collection of Ouida's works.
“My poor Patrasche, we shall soon lie quiet together, you and I,” said old Jehan Daas, stretching out to stroke the head of Patrasche with the old withered hand which had always shared with him its one poor crust of bread; and the hearts of the old man and the old dog ached together with one thought: When they were gone, who would care for their darling? "
❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌spoiler alert❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌
I was thinking that Nello would win the art exhibit but after he finds he did not win all hope is gone, no kindness on Christmas Eve and being turned out of his home after his grandfather dies and rent is spent on burying the kind old man. I still thought that Nello might live after Patrasche finds him at the church looking at The Rubens but the church too cold so they freeze to death. The village is too unkind and Baas Cognez the cause for such unkindness and they all regret but the promising artist is no more. I loved that Patrasche though could have been comfortable refused it and instead searched for his friend. Extremely sad ending which I did not expect.
Short story in short- Patrasche, an abused dog finds love and warmth in the poor Jehan and his grandson, Nello. Nello dreams of a future of success and Patrasche gives friendship and devotion to his friends.
I did not read this edition but from a collection of Ouida's works.
“My poor Patrasche, we shall soon lie quiet together, you and I,” said old Jehan Daas, stretching out to stroke the head of Patrasche with the old withered hand which had always shared with him its one poor crust of bread; and the hearts of the old man and the old dog ached together with one thought: When they were gone, who would care for their darling? "
❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌spoiler alert❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌
I was thinking that Nello would win the art exhibit but after he finds he did not win all hope is gone, no kindness on Christmas Eve and being turned out of his home after his grandfather dies and rent is spent on burying the kind old man. I still thought that Nello might live after Patrasche finds him at the church looking at The Rubens but the church too cold so they freeze to death. The village is too unkind and Baas Cognez the cause for such unkindness and they all regret but the promising artist is no more. I loved that Patrasche though could have been comfortable refused it and instead searched for his friend. Extremely sad ending which I did not expect.
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