A Dog's Tale
by Mark Twain
'A Dog's Tale' Summary
The book is told from the standpoint of a poor household pet, a dog self-described by the first sentence of the story: "My father was a St. Bernard, my mother was a collie, but I am a Presbyterian." The story begins with a description of the dog's life as a puppy and her separation from her mother, which to her was inexplicable. Her puppy and her owner's new child were soon added to her new home. When a fire breaks out in the nursery, the dog risks her life to drag the baby to safety. In the process, her motives are misunderstood and she is cruelly beaten by the father of the family with a cane, resulting in her leg getting broken. Soon, however, the truth of the situation is discovered and she receives no end of praise. Later in the story, her puppy dies, killed by the father of the family to prove his opinion on optics to his scientist peers. Only a servant seems to realize the irony of this, exclaiming, "Poor little doggie, you saved HIS child!" In the end, the dog (who does not realize her puppy is dead until her own hour is upon her) pines inconsolable over the grave of the puppy with the clear implication that she will do so until death.
Book Details
Language
EnglishOriginal Language
EnglishPublished In
1903Author
Mark Twain
United States
Twain was fascinated with science and scientific inquiry. He developed a close and lasting friendship with Nikola Tesla, and the two spent much time together in Tesla's laboratory. Twain patented thre...
More on Mark TwainDownload eBooks
Listen/Download Audiobook
- Select Speed
Related books
Where Animals Talk: West African Folk Lore Tales by Robert Hamill Nassau
Embark on an enchanting journey into the heart of West African culture, where the animals possess a wisdom that rivals the human experience. In "Where...
The Altar of the Dead by Henry James
"The Altar of the Dead" is a short story by Henry James, first published in his collection Terminations in 1895. A fable of literally life and death s...
David Poindexter's Disappearance and Other Tales by Julian Hawthorne
Hook: "Unravel the enigmatic and delve into the depths of human nature in this mesmerizing collection of tales that blend mystery, the supernatural, a...
The Half-Breed: A Tale of the Western Frontier by Walt Whitman
The Half-Breed; A Tale of the Western Frontier is a fictional story written by Walt Whitman in 1845, which was originally published under the name of...
Once a Week by A. A. Milne
A collection of short stories by famed Winnie the Pooh author, A.A. Milne. This charmingly humorous work from Milne's earlier writing period was first...
Three Midnight Stories by Alexander Wilson Drake
Embark on a Journey of Mysterious Tales in "Three Midnight Stories" by Alexander W. Drake Are you ready to step into a world where darkness and enigma...
The Children's Book of Christmas Stories by Various
Many librarians have felt the need and expressed the desire for a select collection of children's Christmas stories in one volume. This book claims to...
The Coxon Fund by Henry James
The story revolves around Saltram and a group of people who are fascinated by him. Ruth Anvoy, a young American woman with a wealthy father, comes to...
The Monkey's Paw by W. W. Jacobs
"The Monkey's Paw" is a supernatural short story by author W. W. Jacobs, first published in England in the collection The Lady of the Barge in 1902. I...
In the Closed Room by Frances Hodgson Burnett
This is a short story about a shy, quiet little girl living in a big city. When her parents are offered the opportunity to take care of a house in the...
Reviews for A Dog's Tale
No reviews posted or approved, yet...