To Say Nothing of the Dog cover art

To Say Nothing of the Dog

Or How We Found the Bishop's Bird Stump at Last

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To Say Nothing of the Dog

By: Connie Willis
Narrated by: Steven Crossley
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About this listen

Connie Willis' Hugo and Nebula Award-winning Doomsday Book uses time travel for a serious look at how people connect with each other. In this Hugo-winning companion to that novel, she offers a completely different kind of time travel adventure: a delightful romantic comedy that pays hilarious homage to Jerome K. Jerome's Three Men in a Boat.

When too many jumps back to 1940 leave 21st century Oxford history student Ned Henry exhausted, a relaxing trip to Victorian England seems the perfect solution. But complexities like recalcitrant rowboats, missing cats, and love at first sight make Ned's holiday anything but restful—to say nothing of the way hideous pieces of Victorian art can jeopardize the entire course of history.

Delightfully aided by the perfect comedic timing of narrator Steven Crossley, To Say Nothing of the Dog shows once again why Connie Willis is one of the most talented writers working today.

©1998 Connie Willis (P)2000 Recorded Books Action & Adventure Fiction Science Fiction Time Travel Fantasy Witty Funny

Critic Reviews

  • Hugo Award, Best Novel, 1999

"Willis effortlessly juggles comedy of manners, chaos theory and a wide range of literary allusions [with a] near flawlessness of plot, character and prose." (Publishers Weekly)
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I don't normally like time travel books - the contradictions involved annoy me. I made an exception for this book and was glad that I did. More than a hint (acknowledged) of Dorothy L Sayers, Jerome K Jerome and P G Wodehouse. Characterisation was good and I was drawn into the story. The narrator did a terrific job of distinguishing the characters and the mood that was present. Don't know if I would read any more in this series but T liked this.

Whimsey time travel

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Love Jeeves and Wooster style humor? Love Agatha Christie style mystery? Then you'll really enjoy this book.

Thank you Jeeves

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If you could sum up To Say Nothing of the Dog in three words, what would they be?

I had no idea it was possible to combine so many wonderful genres. mystery, victorian novel, and sci fi adventure all in one. Its hilarious, and such a pleasant read. the characters are wonderful, and the reader does an excellent job. I'm recommending it to everyone. Really great if you want something a little less heavy without giving up wit, intelligence, good plot, and great writing. Beautifully done!

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Laugh out loud reactions consistently. What a great book to read on road trips or on breaks between work

Brilliant and hilarious

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clever fiction, well written and very funny.
great narrator.
I love this book and will listen to again.
Connie Willis rocks♥️

one of my long time favourites

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A genre mashup of the absurd with a squillion literary references - this is just plain funny and owns every ridiculous moment contextually. Again, like the first Oxford it is not without flaws and the lead in was a little baffling and the ending perhaps a little weak but the journey itself was a riot.

May Cyril the bulldog live forever with his luminous painted prophetic face.

This is madness. I'm here for it.

Here for all of this mad absurdity

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