Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight cover art

Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight

An African Childhood

 Preview

Get 30 days of Standard free

£5.99/mo after trial. Cancel monthly.
Try for £0.00
More purchase options

Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight

By: Alexandra Fuller
Narrated by: Lisette Lecat
Try for £0.00

£5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for £13.31

Buy Now for £13.31

Summary

In 1972, when Alexandra Fuller was two years old, her parents finally abandoned their English life and returned to what was then Southern Rhodesia and to the beginning of a civil war. By the time she was eight, the war was in full swing.

Her parents veered from being determined farmers to being blind drunk, whilst Alexandra and her sister, the only survivors of five children, alternately take up target practice and sing Rod Stewart songs from sun bleached rocks. This memoir is about living through a civil war; it is about losing children and losing that war, and realising that the side you have been fighting for may well be the wrong one.

 Africa Art & Literature Authors Cultural & Regional Education Higher & Continuing Education Heartfelt

Critic reviews

Book Sense Book of the Year Award Winner, Adult Non-Fiction, 2003

"A classic is born in this tender, intensely moving and even delightful journey through a white African girl's childhood." (Publishers Weekly)

"This was no ordinary childhood, and it makes a riveting story thanks to an extraordinary telling." (School Library Journal)

"In this powerful debut, Fuller fully succeeds in memorializing the beauty of each desert puddle and each African summer night sky while also recognizing that beauty can lie hidden in the faces of those who have crossed her path. Highly recommended." (Library Journal)

"An honest, moving portrait of one family struggling to survive tumultuous times." (Booklist)
All stars
Most relevant
The strength and resilience of the whole family is remarkable. If you know life in Africa you will enjoy this account of the innocence of the children and the weariness of the parents battling the odds day in and day out. Wonderful. Loved it. Recommended to Zim friends.

Raw Africa

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Exceeded expectations and perfect narration almost felt like I was there with the family

Highly recommended for anyone else who found Africa a spiritual place to visit

Fantastic tale of a life spent in Africa

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A beautifully written book that took me instantly back to my time in Africa

Fantastic

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I felt the story was somewhat disjointed and then rushed towards the end. Overall an enjoyable read though - but in no small part due to the excellent narration.

Narrator was outstanding

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
“Work harder, Work harder” cry the Cape Turtle doves. I relax as soon as I hear them. Having lived in SA for 6 years and travelled through central and east Africa this book evokes such wonderful, and yes at times bitter sweet, deeply felt memories. The birds, animals both domestic and wild, the different peoples, languages, food, superstitions, eccentricities, landscapes and dry heat. It says a great deal about a continent that despite such terrible, devastating, brutal and cruel tragedies one’s heart can be so touched by a place that one could kiss the earth arriving back there. Africa is deep in all our souls. What a brilliant, often wonderfully absurd and humourous, poignant, beautifully written memoir. Yes I felt that I was there. I downloaded the sequel “Cocktails under the tree of forgetfulness” as soon as I finished. Thank you Alexandra for sharing your incredible childhood and for evoking such touching memories. I will always think of you as that gutsy nine year old left alone thirsty in the bush on her horse, wondering what it felt like to be shot. Wonderfully narrated.

I was back in Africa and I yearned for it

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews