Flush

By: Virginia Woolf

Narrated by: Prunella Scales

One of the most famous of all literary dogs, Flush was the golden cocker spaniel belonging to Elizabeth Barrett. In this charming and heartfelt biography, Virginia Woolf tells his story: his early days as Miss Mitford's puppy running across the fields in wild abandon and fathering another, the years spent in his invalid mistress' bedroom in Wimpole Street, the terror of his kidnap by a Whitechapel gang, the excitement of Miss Barrett's relationship with Robert Browning, and a subsequent very different and much happier life in Italy.

Flush, already immortalised in poetry, is vividly brought to life in this humorous, compassionate yet unsentimental portrayal of a dog's loves, fears, jealousies, and reconciliations. This is a triumph of imaginative, sympathetic and remarkably accessible writing.

(P)1995 CSA Telltapes Ltd.

Critic reviews

"A most triumphant trespassing of human imagination into dog sensibilities....A book of irresistible grace and charm." (Spectator)

Delightful and subtle social commentary

Even if Virginia Woolf's is not normally your favorite, this book is a treat. It captures so many of the things that make her an amazing author and does it only a few hours: her sensory perceptions of London and Florance, her own way of communicating what she admires - or doesn't - in people, and her ability to write so totally from a single perspective at a time (this time a dog's!) Found myself doing a double-take at my own dog.

Would also love to own an unabridged audio of Flush AND an unabridged audio of A Room of One's Own.

(Be sure to catch the section about the spirits in the legs of the tables, from Flush's perspective)

Volume became too low mid-way through book.

Excellent book and rendition. Volume became too low midway through the book even when device audio turned to max.

Great story and reader

I really enjoyed the tale and the way the reader performed it. Excellent all around.

More of Woman's Best Friend

A charming book, based on history told from the watchful point of view of a spaniel. If you love beautifully written prose verging on poetry...if you love dogs...if you Virginia Woolf this book is not only a grand slam but perhaps the Holy Grail? I did not want to book to end and wish there was an unabridged version. I will be reading Flush again very soon.

Superb on every level

A beautifully written beloved dog story by a world-class author read by a world-class narrator. Just the best.