A Dog of Flanders: Unabridged; In Easy-to-Read Type (Dover Children's Thrift Classics) [Paperback]

Ouida (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up | Series: Dover Children's Thrift Classics

Beloved classic recounts the haunting, sentimental tale of Nello, a young boy who aspires to be a painter, and his beloved Patrasche, a Belgian work dog — both of whom endure poverty, hunger, cruelty and rejection up to their tragic, bittersweet end. Newly reset in large, easy-to-read type.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Pseudonym of English novelist Louise de la Ram_e. A prolific writer with more than 40 titles to her name, Ouida is famous for her vibrantly dramatic romance novels. She wrote stories for children and became very successful in that as well. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (December 28, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486270874
• ISBN-13: 978-0486270876
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #471,220 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars INSEPARABLE COMPANIONS IN LIFE--AND DEATH, April 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: A Dog of Flanders: Unabridged; In Easy-to-Read Type (Dover Children's Thrift Classics) (Paperback)

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. Few teens of the 90's 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. 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.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Actually, It's Pretty Good, May 10, 2001

By 

John (United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Dog of Flanders: Unabridged; In Easy-to-Read Type (Dover Children's Thrift Classics) (Paperback)

I read A Dog of Flanders by Ouida mainly out of curiosity. I wanted to read the first "boy and his dog" book written for children. I didn't expect much, and I was surprised when I began to enjoy the story late in the book.

The story is of a peasant boy, Nello, and his dog, Patrasche. The boy just wants to be an artist and see a painting by Rubens. The dog (who has very human feelings) just wants to help the boy reach his goal. The two face absolutely every hardship possible in their attempts.

To enjoy this story, you have to take it in the context of the time it was written. The book is really, really sentimental. Every play for emotion possible is made by the author. Early in the book, it even says (in a literal tone) that Nello and his grandfather would just lay down and die if anything ever happened to the dog. Patrasche was their "alpha and omega." All of the sentimentality really bothered me at the beginning. I'm used to modern writing and didn't take the overplay of emotion well. I had to take into account, though, that Ouida wrote in the romantic tradition, when this type of writing was common, especially in children's books. Looking at A Dog of Flanders as an example from the time period helped me to enjoy the novel even through its oversentimentality. Overall, A Dog of Flanders is a pretty decent read. Most children of today wouldn't love it. A Dog of Flanders is definately a worthy read as a curiosity piece, though.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A haunting story, May 18, 1999

By 

Margaret Fiore - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Dog of Flanders: Unabridged; In Easy-to-Read Type (Dover Children's Thrift Classics) (Paperback)

I have had a little copy of this book with 2 other Ouida tales in it for years. It is a perennial favorite of mine and my children in spite of, or perhaps because of, its shamelessly emotional nature.

The writing is lyrical and lovely, as are the illustrations.