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The Book of Clever Beasts: Studies in Unnatural History: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition

The Book of Clever Beasts: Studies in Unnatural History: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

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AI-generated editorial illustration — not a photograph of the subject
AI-generated editorial illustration — not a photograph of the subject

The Book of Clever Beasts: Studies in Unnatural History is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Reed, Myrtle (1874–1911).

Catalogue synopsis

Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:

"The Book of Clever Beasts: Studies in Unnatural History" by Myrtle Reed is a collection of imaginative tales featuring anthropomorphized animals, likely written in the early 20th century. The narrative is framed through the eyes of a naturalist who documents his observations of various woodland creatures and their interactions with humans, drawing attention to their unique behaviors and emotional lives. The book opens with the tale of Mr. Johnson-Sitdown, a telegraph operator who retreats to a cabin in the woods to recuperate and encounters a field mouse named Little Upsidaisi, setting the stage for a series of whimsical and poignant animal studies. At the start of the story, the protagonist heeds his doctor’s advice to escape the chaos of city life and seeks peace in his grandparent's cabin in the woods, accompanied by his beloved cat, Tom-Tom. Once settled, he eagerly examines the surrounding nature, hoping to document the local wildlife. His encounter with Little Upsidaisi introduces themes of friendship, vulnerability, and the intricate dynamics between humans and animals, culminating in a tragic turn that showcases the often harsh realities of wilderness life. The whimsical yet bittersweet tone establishes a thoughtful exploration of both the natural world and the relationships that emerge within it.

Book and edition facts

  • Title: The Book of Clever Beasts: Studies in Unnatural History
  • Author credits: Reed, Myrtle (1874–1911)
  • Catalogue language: English

Catalogue subjects

  • Animals -- Juvenile fiction
  • Animals, Mythical -- Juvenile fiction
  • Children -- Conduct of life -- Juvenile fiction
  • Children's stories
  • Conduct of life -- Juvenile fiction
  • Fantasy fiction
  • Human-animal relationships -- Juvenile fiction
  • Wit and humor, Juvenile

Gutenberg collections

  • Category: Novels

Read this edition

View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.

Source notes

Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.

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