Summary

“Red Peter’s Little Lady” is written in epistolary form, with letters being exchanged between Red Peter (a chimpanzee), Evelyn (a human), and Hazel (a chimpanzee). The story opens with a letter addressed to Evelyn from Red Peter. Red Peter says he has been ordered by Herr Hagenbeck (the scientist) to write, for he must communicate with Hazel, who is being bred to become his wife. Hazel cannot yet read, so Evelyn acts as the go-between. Red Peter encloses a letter for Evelyn to read to Hazel, in which he introduces himself to Hazel. Red Peter recounts the time he met two young writers (Blei and Kafka) to watch Halley’s Comet. During their meeting, Kafka envies Red Peter and lies on the ground with him. Afterwards, Kafka says unless he had lay down with...