"A Dog of Flanders" by Ouida is a novel published in 1872. Set in 19th-century Belgium, it tells the story of Nello, an orphaned boy living in poverty with his grandfather near Antwerp, and his loyal dog Patrasche. Nello dreams of becoming an artist and longs to see Rubens' masterpieces in the cathedral. As hardship intensifies and tragedy strikes, the bond between boy and dog faces its ultimate test in this poignant tale of friendship and perseverance. (This is an automatically generated summary.)