The Hundred and One Dalmatians (1956)

This book had the potential to be quite vapid, but it turned out to be equally as charming as the Disney film version. Disney may have simplified some of the characters (and improved others in a few cases), but I feel like the general tone of the book was retained quite well. Pongo and Missis Pongo’s mad flight across England and back to London to rescue their stolen pups was an absolute thrill, and the horrid Cruella de Ville remains a creepy spider who definitely belongs under a rock! Obviously we humans can only understand so much about the inner thoughts of our canine companions, but Dodie Smith takes an admirable stab at the subject and comes away with a charming little glimpse into the lives of our pets. ( )

To be honest I’m presuming that the majority, if not all, of you are well aware of the plot of Dodie Smith’s novel. Perhaps more from the Disney films than the books, but most people know all about Cruella De Vil and her plans for Dalmatian fur coats.

Life for Mr and Mrs Dearly and their dogs, Pongo and Misses, is going well. They live near Regent’s Park in London and are very comfortably well off, Mr Dearly having helped the government out with its sums, he doesn’t really have to worry about money any more. But one day they bump into an old school-friend of Mrs Dearly, Cruella De Vil, and she takes quite a shine to Pongo and Misses. She loves their wonderfully spotted Dalmatian coats, and when the dogs have puppies she becomes even more interested.

One day returning home from a walk the Dearlys and the Pongos are distraught to realise their fifteen puppies have disappeared! Stolen!

Mr Dearly at once offers a reward, but the dogs are not prepared to sit around and wait for their “pets” to find their puppies, they get the news out on Twilight Barking and pretty soon learn where the puppies have been taken to. Then they are off to Suffolk to rescue them.
I would say I haven’t read this book in more than twenty years, if not longer than that, but as I was reading it I could remember it all so well. Every new dog that made its appearance was an old friend. I have no idea how many times I read and reread this book as a child. I know it was a lot.

But my familiarity with it did nothing to lessen my enjoyment of it. I simply love this book. Smith’s way of telling the tale is just such a delight to read. And while the gender roles might date this book quite a lot, I can’t see any reason why a modern reader wouldn’t enjoy this book. Especially if they were a dog lover. And Cruella, although not on stage a huge amount, is a wonderful villain. The threat she poses looms over the dogs and the whole story the whole way through. If you get a chance you really should pick up this classic and give it a go. If only for the illustrations. They are simple, black and white, but so effective.

This is my first book for this year’s Once Upon a Time reading challenge, it may not be an old folk tale or fairy tale, but it has that wonderful fairy tale atmosphere that I think is such a part of OUaT. Plus, you know, talking dogs really is fantasy fiction :) ( )

It was because of this book that I eventually discovered Smith's lovely "I Capture the Castle." ( )

never seen the movie, but i love how dated and sweet and british this book is! ( )

I remember reading this book as a small kid, and when I found a used copy I picked it up just to try it again. It is exactly as charming and wonderful and adventure-filled as I remembered. My only issue reading it as an adult was the extreme gendering of Missis and Pongo as the flighty lady and the intelligent man... er... dog. But even that wasn't enough to make me love it any less. Such a great book! ( )