The Last Will and Testament of a Very Distinguished Dog

by Eugene O'Neill, Adrienne Yorinks (Illustrator)

The perfect gift for every dog owner.

In the early 1940s, famed playwright Eugene O'Neill wrote a moving piece of prose about his dog, Silverdene Emblem O'Neill (Blemie). In The Last Will and Testament of an Extremely Distinguished Dog , O'Neill eloquently and compassionately articulates what all dog owners feel as their pet nears the of its life. O'Neill's elegy has been lovingly restored to print and is beautifully illustrated by the award-winning quilt maker Adrienne Yorinks. Yorinks complements the text using twenty-five machine-pieced and hand-stitched quilts with color photographic transfers of dogs. The Last Will says everything that needs to be said to someone you love who is losing or has lost a beloved canine friend.

Genres: Animals, Dogs, Fiction, Plays, American

48 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1940

About the author

American playwright Eugene Gladstone O'Neill authored Mourning Becomes Electra in 1931 among his works; he won the Nobel Prize of 1936 for literature, and people awarded him his fourth Pulitzer Prize for Long Day's Journey into Night , produced in 1956.

He won his Nobel Prize "for the power, honesty and deep-felt emotions of his dramatic works, which embody an original concept of tragedy." More than any other dramatist, O'Neill introduced the dramatic realism that Russian playwright Anton Chekhov, Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen, and Swedish playwright August Strindberg pioneered to Americans and first used true American vernacular in his speeches.

His plays involve characters, who, engaging in depraved behavior, inhabit the fringes of society, where they struggle to maintain their hopes and aspirations but ultimately slide into disillusionment and despair. O'Neill wrote Ah, Wilderness! , his only comedy: all his other plays involve some degree of tragedy and personal pessimism.

Reviews

[Junta · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sad but sweet essay written from a dying dog's point of view by Eugene O'Neill, the 1936 winner of the Nobel Prize of Literature (which I found out just before). I translated the essay into Japanese for my mum who's a children's non-fiction writer, as she was considering this as potential material.

I'm a cat person myself but I like dogs (well, animals in general) too and was surprisingly moved by the prose. The time my family's first cat died was probably when I cried the most in my life, and we've had our second for nearly 12 years now (picture here).

A book that those whom like animals can appreciate. I read the unabridged version which is not listed on Goodreads, but can be found online here (albeit with some typos). If you've ever had a dog, do take five minutes to read it.

September 9, 2015

[luuxhc · Rating 5 out of 5]

"que se acuerden de mi como el perro más feliz de la tierra"


por supuesto kokito

[Jazz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read and re-read "The Last Will and Testament of an Extremely Distinguished Dog" so many times since I obtained this edition in 2005. Written in the early '40s by playwright Eugene O'Neill on the death of his beloved dog "Blemie," I first ran across the little book when I lost a most precious dog myself 14 years ago, and it remains a wonderful comfort now that I've lost another. If you have ever lost a dear companion animal, this simply-stated book, written as though by the dog to his Master/Mistress, brings comfort and yes, tears—but healing tears. You, too, will want to read it again and again. This 1999 edition is beautifully illustrated by Adrienne Yorinks, a quilter and fabric artist, who I believe used pictures of her own beloved dog, Skye. It makes a beautiful gift for someone grieving their canine companion or for yourself.

[Tomás Bagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eso pensaria "Pincho"

[camn · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderfully bittersweet tribute to man's best friend. I was given this book after having lost one of my dogs and it helps with the grieving process. But this is also perfect for dog lovers in general. The illustrations are gorgeous and the narrative is a great reminder that, as much as we want them to, our furry friends/babies don't live forever except in our hearts and minds.

[Marguerite Hargreaves · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stumbled onto this while searching the local library system for the plays of Eugene O'Neill. The text of the book isn't as distinguished as the dog being lauded but will resonate with pet owners. What makes this a book I'm likely to give a friend suffering the loss of a furry family member are the illustrations, actually quilts, made by Adrienne Yorinks. They are sublime.

[María · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute y triste, pero cute.
Es bonito este testimonio🐕‍🦺💜
Amo a los perritos 😭

[Diana Solares · Rating 5 out of 5]

Para aquellos que hemos perdido una mascota a quien consideramos parte de nuestra familia, este libro es cortito, pero sanador.

[Anna Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

My parents buried their 16-year-old dog this weekend, and I read this tiny book with him in mind. Bentley was a mutt, I guess, having been rescued from the pound at about 18 months old, but he was a gentleman. Vigilant with squirrels. Friendly with barn cats. Not a cuddler but always up for a scratch on the ears or under the chin. Big dogs like him don’t normally live that long, and I’m glad we all got so many years with him and a soft, gentle letdown to death as we watched him get old slowly.

The house was quiet this morning, and I lingered over this little book, savoring it like a perfect square of dark chocolate caramel. It’s written from Blemie the dog’s perspective, and I want to list here for you all the perfect little bits in the story that brought me joy, but I also want you to read it and find them for yourself.

A good dog is the most special gift, and I have been fortunate to have many. Though, I guess that shouldn’t be much of a surprise. To use Blemie’s words, “I have always held that most dogs are good (and one cat)…”

Rest in Peace, Bentley Boy.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

My mom wanted me to read this, so I did. It is charming, and I could see it comforting to those who lose their fur-babies. The pictures are cute.

[Alexandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this from when one of my childhood dogs passed away when I was in college. Ten years later I continue to pass the title on whenever someone I know suffers the loss of a dog they adored. O'Neill wrote this ode to his beloved Blemie, in the dog's voice as he lay dying. While the rather slim volume will require an entire box of Kleenex, I still find myself sitting down and reading it from time to time.

Unfortunately I had to pick up a copy for someone two months ago. I delivered it about a week after their Lab died She and her fiancee were grappling with how and when to consider another dog. After reading this book, T. called me and said that it had made the decision for them. A few weeks ago they brought home a black lab from a rescue and feel such joy. They thanked me for this but they really have to thank O'Neill.

[Oscar Bagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pincho

[Lidia Guerra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Muy tierno, una linda idea.
Me disgusta que se use la palabra amo y ama, y además en mayúscula, para referirse a les humanes con quien ha vivido.

Creo que el lenguaje no refleja lo que el perro podría querer comunicar sino lo que el autor imagina que el perro le diría en lenguaje humano... 😑... Me parece pues, que es un lenguaje algo especista...

La edición que he comprado, hermosa, en español, pasta dura.

[Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Ya es hora de decir adiós, antes que mis achaques molesten a quienes me han querido. Triste será abandonarlos, pero no es triste morir”
” Paz y descanso para un corazón tan fatigado y maltrecho como la cabeza y el resto del cuerpo. Sueño eterno en la tierra que tanto he amado”
“ […] que se acuerden de mi como el perro más feliz de la tierra, gracias a su amor y cuidados”

Emotivo, simple, directo y delicado.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My beloved dog passed away last year, and a friend gave me this book. Someone had given her this book when her dog passed away, and she found it comforting. I found it the same. I read it with tears streaming down my face but it was JUST what I needed.

From now on, I will give this to any of my friends who lose their canine companions. It's lovely, and written by one of our great playwrights - what more could one ask?

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Someone recommended this to me as a way to help deal with my grief over the loss of my best friend. Surprisingly it did help in some small way, although I can't pinpoint how or why. I will say this - if you read this and don't shed a tear, you've either never had an animal companion or you're just not human.

[Ariel · Rating 5 out of 5]

“One last word of farewell, Dear Master and Mis-tress. Whenever you visit my grave, say to yourselves with regret but also with happiness in your hearts at the remembrance of my long happy life with you: "Here lies one who loved us and whom we loved." No matter how deep my sleep I shall hear you, and not all the power of death can keep my spirit from wagging a grateful tail.”

[Dan Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

“ I have a little in the way of material things to leave. Dogs are wiser than men. They do not set great store up on things. They do not waste their days hoarding property. They do not ruin their sleep, worrying about how to keep the objects they have, and to obtain objects they have not.”

O’Neill wrote this in the 40s as he was losing his dog “Blemie”. It’s short and powerful. Give it a read!

[Alisa Cupcakeland · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like O'Neill's writing so I was expecting more from this book in terms of prose, I don't know if it was an issue with the translation but I missed some sense of beauty. Nevertheless, it's still a nice read, the illustrations are beautiful and the whole story from the dog's perspective is very tender and heart-warming.

[Juddzz]

I first saw this book on display in the literary corner in the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in Manhattan. A lovely, poignant little book; a poetic consolation for anyone who has ever lost a beloved pet.

[YITING · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book in the library. It's ok. The picture is great. Though I'm a bird person, i was still moved by the book.

"Whenever you visit my grave, say to yourselves with regret but also with happiness in your hearts at the remembrance of my long, happy life with you: 'Here lies one who loved us and whom we loved.'"

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short but wonderful book. I have had Border Collies for the last 25 years but I hold one closer to my heart and that is Shanny. I think of her often though I love our 2 dogs immensely now as well. She will always be in my heart and I often feel she is still with me.

[Melisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite lines from O'Neill's elegy:
"...remember me always, but not to grieve for me too long."
"It would be a poor tribute to my memory never to have a dog again."
"...not all the power of death can keep my spirit from wagging a grateful tail."

[phantom · Rating 5 out of 5]

“No matter how deep my sleep I shall hear you, and not all the power of death can keep my spirit from wagging a grateful tail.”

I stood in Barnes and Noble in shock with tears down my face. This shall go in my future veterinary hospital. 🧡

[Meagan Scherer]

rest in peace Blemie, you are SO distinguished. why did I think this would be a good idea to read, again?

"No matter how deep my sleep, I shall hear you and not all the power of death can keep my spirit from wagging a grateful tail."

:(((

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

A classic. Love this book and have often gifted this book to others.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

"No matter how deep my sleep I shall hear you and not all the power of death can keep my spirit from wagging a grateful tail."
(sob)😭

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just a cute and quick read about a dog's thoughts about the end of life. It is the way I hope my dogs feel and think.

[Flynt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book, something I know I will re-read multiple times during my life.

[Indy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice book on bereavement for pets.