
A clever donkey named Cadichon takes us on a witty, self‑deprecating tour of his own life, addressing a young master who has dismissed donkeys as dull and stubborn. Through his own “memories,” he argues that donkeys possess sharp wit, loyalty, and a surprising capacity for learning. The tone is both humorous and heartfelt, inviting listeners to rethink the stereotypes that have long shadowed these humble animals.
The narrative opens with the donkey’s childhood, marked by relentless labor at the bustling weekly market of Laigle. Forced to carry heavy baskets of eggs, cheese, butter and vegetables, he endures harsh beatings from a demanding mistress, yet finds moments of rebellion and small comforts in the stalls. As he recounts these early hardships, Cadichon hints at a growing awareness that could change the way humans see and treat their four‑legged companions.
Language
fr
Duration
~5 hours (299K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Renald Levesque and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team.
Release date
2004-06-29
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1799–1874
A Russian-born French countess who became one of the best-loved writers for children, she is still remembered for lively, moral, and often mischievous stories like Sophie's Misfortunes. Her books helped shape 19th-century French children's literature and have stayed in print for generations.
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