A Dog of Flanders

A Dog of Flanders is a 19th century children's novel, written by British author Ouida in 1872. It's the dramatic tale of a young Flemish boy, Nello, and his dog Patrasche.

Nello is a poor kid who becomes an orphan at the age of two when his mother dies in the Ardennes. His grandfather, Jehan Daas, takes him in, and Nello moves to a small village near Antwerp. One day, Nello finds a dog who was almost beaten to death and names him Patrasche. The animal recovers and proves his usefulness by helping Nello deliver milk to his grandfather's clients. Nello then falls in love with Aloise, daughter of Nicholas Cogez, a rich man in the village. He doesn't want his daughter to be seen with a pauper, so Nello tries to earn some money by entering a junior drawing contest.

Then, things turn out for the worse. He loses the contest, Nicholas accuses him of pyromania, and his grandfather dies, so he loses his place to stay. Nello and Patrasche wander lonely and sadly through the streets while the snow of Christmas Eve covers the landscape. Nello and his dog pass by the Cathedral of Antwerp and, since the boy admires painter Peter Paul Rubens, he wants to see his famous painting "The Elevation of the Cross". Again tragedy strikes, because he hasn't got enough money. So he leaves and later returns and discovers the church door is open. He enters and is able to see the painting with his own eyes. Next morning Nello and Patrasche are found, frozen to death in front of the painting.

Despite taking place in Belgium, the story is almost forgotten in the country itself. But in Japan, the book is a classic and a clear example of Germans Love David Hasselhoff. Countless Japanese children have read and cried over the sad tale of Nello and his dog. In fact: a large part of Japanese tourism to Antwerp is caused by this tale.

To please Japanese tourists, a small statue of Nello and Patrasche has been built in front of Antwerp's cathedral.

Read it here.


 * A Boy and His X: Dog
 * Artistic License Geography: This story has been adapted to film or anime many times in Japan. Some versions absolutely didn't do any research for the story. Nello is portrayed as a Dutch boy walking on clumps in a landscape full of tulip fields, which can be found in the Netherlands, but not in Flanders.
 * Canine Companion: Patrasche accompanies Nello everywhere.
 * Children Are Innocent
 * Died Happily Ever After: Nello did get to see Rubens' painting before he froze to death.
 * Downer Ending
 * Engagement Challenge: Nello wants to win a contest so he'll have money to give to his sweetheart and be accepted by her father.
 * Famous Last Words: Before freezing to death, Nello whispers to Pastrache's lifeless body: "We shall see His face—there... and He will not part us, I think."
 * Heartwarming Orphan
 * Homeless Hero: After his grandfather dies Nello has no place to go.
 * Missing Mom
 * Never Accepted in His Hometown: The book was written by a British author and takes place in Belgium, but in both countries the novel fell into obscurity. Only in Japan is a beloved and world famous classic book.
 * Parental Substitute: Nello's grandfather
 * Raised by Grandparents: Only one, the grandfather
 * Snow Means Death: Nello freezes to his death.
 * Starving Artist: Nello has talent for drawing, but is too poor.
 * Together in Death: Nello and Pastrache
 * Too Good for This Sinful Earth
 * World Masterpiece Theater: It was adapted as a part of this saga in the Seventies.