_Fortuna_ is probably the most popular dog story in Spanish. It makes
pleasant reading, it holds the student's interest throughout, and its
language is clear and simple.
The author of _Fortuna_, Enrique Pérez Escrich (1829-1897), was born in
Valencia, Spain, but he went to Madrid when a young man. He was a
prolific writer of popular stories. Both _Fortuna_ and _Tony_, another
dog story by the same author, are evidence that Pérez Escrich knew dogs
and loved them. One can not read these stories without feeling greater
admiration and respect for the dog, the best friend that man has among
the animals. _Fortuna_ also gives an interesting account of the
adventures of a boy who is kidnapped and is finally rescued with the aid
of the dog whom he had befriended and who thus undertook to pay his debt
of gratitude.
For a brief account of the life and works of Pérez Escrich, see Julio
Cejador y Frauca, _Historia de la Lengua y Literatura Castellana_, Vol.
VIII (pages 56-57), Madrid, 1918.
In this edition of _Fortuna_ some words and sentences have been omitted
from the text because they were uninteresting and unimportant. In a few
cases expressions have been left out because they were unusual and
therefore not adapted to elementary instruction.
In the exercises there is an abundance of direct-method material. Each
of the exercises consists of four parts. The first part gives simple
grammatical questions. The second contains idiomatic expressions to be
committed to memory and to be used in the formation of sentences. The
third part gives questions on the subject matter of the story which are
to be answered in Spanish. And the fourth contains connected sentences
to be translated from English into Spanish. Those teachers who prefer
that the students in the elementary classes should not translate English
into Spanish may postpone or omit altogether this part of the exercises
if they wish to do so.
The language of _Fortuna_ is so clear and simple that the story may be
read to advantage in elementary classes. The notes, the direct-method
exercises and the vocabulary have been prepared with a view to the needs
of beginners.
The editors are glad to take this opportunity of expressing their thanks
to Professor Juan Cano, Mr. Antonio Alonso, and Miss Madre Merrill of
Indiana University, and Dr. Alexander Green and Miss Ellen E. Aldrich of
D.C. Heath and Company for their valuable assistance in the preparation
of this book.