OUIDA [Marie Louise de la Ramée]
A Dog of Flanders and other Stories
"It was a Christian country, and Pastrache was but a dog"
Four short stories by Ouida, the first of which is A Dog of Flanders, “A sentimental animal fable and study in Flemish genre subject-matter.” (Sutherland, p.192). The others are A Branch of Lilac, A Provence Rose, and A Leaf in the Storm.
“Nello lives with his ancient guardian, Jehan Daas, on the outskirts of Antwerp. Daas is a peasant who is assisted by a Flemish dog, Patrasche, who draws his milk cart to market. Patrasche is well used by his masters (unusual enough in Belgium, as Ouida notes) and adores them. Nello grows up with artistic yearnings he can never fulfil. And his love for the miller’s daughter Alois is forbidden because of his poverty. Finally he freezes to death outside Antwerp Cathedral (whose Rubens paintings are his inspiration) with the loyal dog Patrasche in his arms. Ouida makes the story a text for her lifelong campaign for kindness to animals.” (Sutherland, p.192).
Covers and spine rather darkened, edge-wear.
