Download A Dog of Flanders by Ouida. Available in PDF, EPUB, and MOBI formats. Enjoy a summary, excerpt, and related recommendations.
About A Dog of Flanders
A Dog of Flanders by Ouida is a poignant tale set in 19th-century Belgium, chronicling the enduring friendship between a young orphan named Nello and his faithful dog, Patrasche. The narrative explores themes of loyalty, poverty, and the pursuit of artistic dreams against societal odds.
Why Read A Dog of Flanders?
Short Summary: In 19th-century Belgium, young Nello and his dog, Patrasche, form an unbreakable bond. Despite facing severe hardships and societal challenges, Nello aspires to become an artist, drawing inspiration from the works of Rubens. Their story is a testament to unwavering friendship and the pursuit of one's dreams.
"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, and strengthened with their strength, until they loved one another very greatly.
Their hut was a mere mud cabin, but it was clean and white as a sea-shell, and stood in a small plot of garden-ground that yielded beans and herbs and pumpkins. They were very poor, terribly poor—many a day they had nothing at all to eat. They never thought of that. They were happy.
In the winter-time, when the snow lay deep, and the winds were rough and piercing, and the cold was intense, and the wolves came down into the villages, and all the animals were half-starved, and the children shivered and hungered, and the very trees were leafless and gaunt, and the whole country was desolate,—then, indeed, it was bad weather for the poor. But even then, in the worst seasons, when the frost was at its keenest, and the icicles were thick upon the thatch, and the hard ground was covered with snow, and the trees were like white sheeted ghosts, and the birds were silent, and the beasts were famished,—even then, Nello and Patrasche were happy in their little hut, in the warmth of the peat fire, in the companionship of each other.
Patrasche had a warm corner where the straw was piled thick, and Nello had his little bed of hay; and they would lie close together, and Nello would throw his arm over the dog's neck, and Patrasche would put his head on the boy's breast, and they would both sleep soundly till the peep of day. They had no money, and scarcely enough to eat. The old man could do but little; he was weak and ailing. But the boy and the dog were strong and brave, and the boy worked for the dog, and the dog worked for the boy; and they were happy."
