An Elegy on the Death of a Mad Dog: Poetry Guide and Free Edition
An Elegy on the Death of a Mad Dog: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

An Elegy on the Death of a Mad Dog is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Goldsmith, Oliver (?–1774).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"An Elegy on the Death of a Mad Dog" by Oliver Goldsmith is a whimsical poem illustrated by R. Caldecott, written during the late 18th century. This work combines humor and poignancy in a lighthearted exploration of themes such as friendship, loyalty, and the unpredictable nature of both humans and animals. It can be categorized as a children's poetry book, often appealing to audiences for its playful language and entertaining illustrations. The poem narrates the tale of a kind-hearted man and his unfortunate encounter with a mad dog. Initially friends, their relationship goes awry when the dog bites the man, prompting the community to assume the man will perish from the injury. However, to everyone’s surprise, the man recovers while the dog succumbs to madness. This twist emphasizes the irony of the situation and serves as a commentary on character judgments and the unforeseen outcomes of conflicts. Throughout the verses, Goldsmith intertwines humor with life lessons, showcasing his talent for playful storytelling that charms readers of all ages.
Book and edition facts
- Title: An Elegy on the Death of a Mad Dog
- Author credits: Goldsmith, Oliver (?–1774)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Humorous poetry
- Nursery rhymes
- Picture books for children
Gutenberg collections
- Category: British Literature
- Category: Children & Young Adult Reading
- Category: Humour
- Category: Poetry
- Children's Picture Books
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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.



