Audiobook Sample
Listen to the sample to experience the story.
Please wait while we verify your browser...
- Title: Adventures of a Dog, and a Good Dog Too
- Author: Alfred Elwes
- Narrator: Allyson Hester
- Length: 02:22:00
- Version: Abridged
- Release Date: 01/01/2011
- Publisher: LibriVox
- Genre: Kids, General
- ISBN13: SABFAB9780603
There’s something profoundly intimate about hearing a story told through the eyes of a creature who loves unconditionally. As I listened to “Adventures of a Dog, and a Good Dog Too” while hiking through the redwood forests of Northern California, Job’s canine perspective made me notice things I’d normally miss – the way sunlight dappled through ferns like scattered biscuits, the symphony of rustling leaves that might as well have been the whispers of a thousand squirrels. Alfred Elwes’ 19th-century gem, narrated with warmth by Allyson Hester, isn’t just a children’s story; it’s a looking glass held up to human nature, fogged slightly by a dog’s wet nose.
“A Tail of Two Societies”
Elwes crafts Job’s world with the same thoughtful detail I’ve observed in indigenous storytelling traditions – where animals aren’t caricatures but complex reflections of ourselves. The canine society mirroring Victorian hierarchies reminded me of watching street dogs in Mexico City form intricate social bonds, each with their own roles and rituals. Hester’s narration captures this beautifully, giving Job a voice that’s equal parts dignified and endearingly earnest. When she voices his confusion at human frivolities (why chase balls when there are perfectly good smells to investigate?), I laughed aloud, recalling my own border collie’s judgmental side-eye when I’d choose typing over fetch.
“The Narrator’s Leash on Our Imagination”
Hester’s performance is a masterclass in subtlety. She avoids the trap of making Job overly anthropomorphic, instead letting Elwes’ prose do the work – her slight growl on words like “ruffian” or the joyful lilt when describing a successful hunt for kitchen scraps creates a living, panting presence. The audio quality has the charming imperfections of a LibriVox recording (occasional background rustles, the faintest echo), but this only adds to its authenticity, like listening to a beloved aunt recount tales by the fireside. It’s a far cry from the sterile perfection of studio productions, and all the better for it.
“Burying Bones of Critique”
Modern listeners might find the Victorian moralizing heavy-handed – Job’s lectures on propriety can feel like being nuzzled a bit too insistently by an overeager pup. Yet within these moments lie fascinating cultural artifacts: the way Elwes uses canine loyalty to critique human fickleness, or how Job’s encounters with “uncivilized” strays reveal period prejudices. It’s a reminder that even the gentlest children’s stories carry the DNA of their era.
“The Pack of Similar Stories”
Fans of “Black Beauty” will recognize the same narrative heartbeat – an animal’s life as a lens for social commentary – though Job lacks Sewell’s reformist fury. The book sits comfortably beside “The Wind in the Willows” for its cozy anthropomorphism, though it’s more “Downton Abbey” than “Watership Down” in its focus on societal structures over survival. What makes it unique is its unapologetic domesticity; this isn’t a wolf howling at the moon, but a hearth-bound companion observing his world with wry affection.
“Who Should Roll Over for This Audiobook?”
Perfect for: families on road trips (the short chapters are ideal for young attention spans), writers studying narrative voice, or anyone who’s ever wondered what their dog “really” thinks about their life choices. The free availability makes it a guiltless pleasure – though be warned, you may find yourself slipping your own pup extra treats after listening.
With a storyteller’s grin and a traveler’s curiosity, always leaving room for one more tale by the fire,
Marcus Rivera
