Duke, the Dog Priest

Book excerpt: Let the reader be warned: this tale will challenge even the most sophisticated with its dazzling mix of priests, brothers, nuns, students, church workers, parishioners, city luminaries and, yes, a dog named Duke. From the very first pages, readers will be thrown into a debate underlying the wonderful absurdity of Coutinho's premise, for his novel fabulously purports to be the tale of a dog who desires to become a priest; or at least learn Latin. Originally published in Brazil in 1998, the story of Duke is a contemporary masterwork.