The Hundred and One Dalmatians

By: Dodie Smith

Narrated by: Martin Jarvis

Pongo and Missis Pongo are a pair of Dalmatians who live with the newly married Mr. and Mrs. Dearly and their two nannies. Mr. Dearly is a "financial wizard" who has been granted life-long tax exemption and lent a house on the Outer Circle in Regent's Park in return for wiping out the government debt. The dogs consider the humans their pets, but allow the humans to think that they are the owners.

Missis gives birth to a litter of 15 puppies. Concerned that Missis will not be able to feed them all, Mrs. Dearly looks for a wet nurse, and finds an abandoned Dalmatian mother in the middle of the road in the pouring rain. She has the dog treated by a vet and names her Perdita.

Mr. and Mrs. Dearly attend a dinner party hosted by Cruella de Vil, an intimidating and very wealthy woman fixated with fur. The Dearlys are disconcerted by her belief that all animals are worthless and should be drowned. Shortly after the dinner party, the puppies disappear. The humans fail to trace them, but through the "Twilight Barking", a forum of communication in which dogs can relay messages to each other across the country, the dogs manage to track them down to "Hell Hall", the ancestral home of the de Vil family in Suffolk.

Pongo and Missis decide to run away from home and find them, leaving Perdita to look after the Dearlys. After a journey across the countryside, they learn that there are 97 puppies in Hell Hall, including their own 15.

Thus commences a determined attempt to rescue the Dalmatian puppies quickly before they end up as fur for one of Cruella de Vil’s famous black and white fur coats.

©1956 CSA Word (P)2003 CSA Word

Critic reviews

"Martin Jarvis continues to bring the classics of children's literatue to new audiences with a reading of Dodie Smith's dognapping adventure every bit as enjoyable as his Just William series" ( The Daily Telegraph)

"Fun as the film was, it did not do justice to the cascade of wit and jokes that flows from Dodie Smith's pen in the novel....like Peter Pan, this is a book that will be as much enjoyed by parents as children." ( The Independent)

MY FAVORITE BOOK EVER!!!!!!!

This is literally the best book I have ever read and it's my favorite. I have read it thru like 6 times and it is always so so so so so so fun to listen to every time! The narrarators are very good too!

A lot of fun

Don't let the fact that this is supposed to be a children's book stop you from listening to this entertaining and well written story. The narrator does a great job of voicing all of the characters in a believable fashion.

Great

Where does The Hundred and One Dalmatians rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I really like the book. I read it as a child and wanted to have another copy form.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I don't know who my favorite character is. I do like Perdy.

Which character – as performed by Martin Jarvis – was your favorite?

I don't have one. He did a great job.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

There are many. I liked the part at the church and when Perdy was reunited with her pups and husband.

Wonderful listening for the whole family

We listened to this story on a long car trip and it kept our entire family entertained. My seven-year-old had read the story twice before so she was familiar with it, but our five-year-old heard it for the first time. My husband and I found ourselves chuckling in the front seat as we listened. Well worth the money spent to have us all happy during the trip!

My favorite story!

I loved this as a child and stll it is a reat way to escape.

A hit with the kids

This was a hit from begining to end. The story was well narrated, clear and easy to follow. My two children, aged 5 and 8, were riveted, and so was I!

One of my favorite books.

lovely story, well written, funny and heartwarming. For ages 1-101. It was a joy to listen to with my kids.

excellent - great for car trip with kids!

I downloaded this for a 4 hr road trip with my 4 yr old niece - I didnt get "are we there yet" once! She listened to the entire book and loved it. Well narrated.

A great family listen

Would you consider the audio edition of The Hundred and One Dalmatians to be better than the print version?

We haven't read the print version. I am sure it would be a good book to read aloud, but I don't think I could match the narrator here!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The dogs all helping each other was lovely. The older puppies pulling the smaller ones in a cart. The nightly howling spreading the news around the dog world.

Any additional comments?

A great listen on a car trip with our 8 year old son. Old fashioned, sweet natured adventure which I am sure we would happily listen to again (even if our son was not with us!)

OVER 60 MILES AS THE DOG BARKS

MOST USUAL DOGS ARE MORE UNUSUAL THAN UNUSUAL DOGS.
What a wonderful story. This is not a Disney Movie made into a book, but a 1956 book that was adapted into a movie in 1961. It is extremely well written and can be enjoyed by the whole family. At times it is laugh out loud funny. I found the General, to be extremely funny. Dog owners will love it the most.

THE SIZE OF ALL BREEDS SHOULD BE KEPT UP
Since it was written in 56 and even though it was written by a woman, there are some noticeable sexist remarks. The mother dog, is referred to as Mrs., while her husband has a name, Pongo. Mrs. can't tell her right from her left and the male dogs think, that is cute. The male pups struggle bravely, but the female pups, just can't go on. With that exception, I recommend this book, highly. It is entertaining, fun and intelligent.

S.O.S, SAVE OUR SKINS
Narrator does an excellent job