The Black Cat ~ LA PENSINE MUTINE (EN)

Long before university where I started studying American fantasy writers of the 19th century, I was already a fan of Edgar Poe. It sounded only natural with Halloween coming up to invite you to discover (or rediscover) one of the most famous stories by the precursor of this increasingly popular genre that suspense literature is. Its official translator in France was none other than wonderful poet Charles Baudelaire (which goes to show that translation truly requires literary skills and that Google Translate may go f*** itself). Since this work has fallen into the public domain you may legally download it from Wikisource using the link provided below.

From my infancy I was noted for the docility and humanity of my disposition. My tenderness of heart was even so conspicuous as to make me the jest of my companions. I was especially fond of animals, and was indulged by my parents with a great variety of pets. With these I spent most of my time, and never was so happy as when feeding and caressing them. This peculiarity of character grew with my growth, and, in my manhood, I derived from it one of my principal sources of pleasure. To those who have cherished an affection for a faithful and sagacious dog, I need hardly be at the trouble of explaining the nature or the intensity of the gratification thus derivable. There is something in the unselfish and self-sacrificing love of a brute, which goes directly to the heart of him who has had frequent occasion to test the paltry friendship and gossamer fidelity of mere Man.
"The Black Cat", Edgar Allan Poe