The 101 Dalmatians

The 101 Dalmatians by Dodie Smith
Fiction – Children’s Literature
184 pages

We listened to this famous story on audiobook during a family road trip. The original version - published in England in 1956 - contains rich language and a nuanced story. It was a big hit with both our young children as well as the adults!

It is interesting to note a couple significant changes from the Disney version... Mr. Dearly is a financial wizard who helped England get out of national debt. In appreciation, the English government grants him a house in Regents Park and he doesn't have to pay taxes for his lifetime. He and Mrs. Dearly seemed kind but very proper - definitely upper crust. They had two nannies (Nanny Butler & Nanny Cook) and presumably other servants in their home. In the Disney version, I think Mr. Dearly is a struggling musician.

The main dogs are Pongo and Mrs. Pongo (or Mrs for short). After Mrs gives birth to 15 puppies, the veterinarian instructs the Dearlys to get a 'surrogate mother' to help feed all the puppies. Apparently dogs only have nipples to feed 8 puppies at a time. So, they bring Perdita (a female dog who has lost her own puppies, but is still producing milk) into their home for that purpose. In the Disney version, there is just one mother dog named Perdita.

Much is also made in the original version about Mr. de Vil's career as a furrier. He is described as being as evil as his wife, but in a weak (rather than powerful) way. At the end of the book, the animals are able to put him out of business and ruin him financially. He and Mrs. de Vil sneak out of the country to avoid debt collection.

RECOMMENDED FOR: Families with young children. Dog lovers. Road trippers!