Customer Reviews

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

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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.

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.

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.

Very famous story in Japan. After many hardships, a boy and a dog could glance a Rubens in Notre Dam de Antwerp to be relieved from their lives. They gave their friends the purest form of love, which will be deeply engraved on readers' memory. A true gem.

This story reminds us that dogs are the best companions for human-beings. The firm and genuine friendship between Nero and Patrache is clearly described against the background of the dark, cold, gloomy weather of the northern country, and against the coldness of their neighbors who misunderstand much about them. If you like this kind of tragic story and want to read another one, please check out�eHACHI�|KO MONOGATARI'. This story (=MONOGATARI) is also focused on the close relationship between a human (a Japanese) and a dog. This is a touching tale, too. Unfortunately, however, I'm not sure whether it is translated in English or not. Anyway, I do recommend �eA dog of Flanders', the most famous masterpiece of Ouida.

The only other was "Little Women". Anyone that has felt the joy and harshness of nature, the love and devotion of a pet, the unconditional love of a parent, and an intense spiritual feeling(in my case a love of Jesus); will be deeply moved by this story. I was literally crying by the last page. This is a timeless story with a message for everyone!

Ouida expresses depiction of the village in Belgium very beautifully.This also sadly beautiful tale written about Nello, and his dog, and Patrasche can make many people cry.�@Nello works to one portion, though he is a boy, and he studies the importance of finishing alone. It is insisted that working hard at any work is important for this work.�@Simultaneously, this work expresses the discrimination to a poor person.Nello who believed his future is a manly boy, being equal to the cold treatment by villagers.

Though I have known this story long time for 25 years or so, it was from animation. So it was different from waht I know. Basically it was same and I found the more details but I also foud some conflicts. Johan was 80 years old when Nello was 2 years old. His mother was very old or Johan was very old when he got his daughter. Nello died when he was 15 but animation was much younger. The problem I see is 15 years old boy is old enough to live by himself 100 years ago ( I might be wrong). Anyway setting of age is kinda wrong. By the way I read a book which is published in 1910 not this book. If this book is different, please let me know.