Cobweb

Cobweb is a lively puppy with a gift for herding animals, living in the wilds of Pembrokeshire with his beloved owner, Bethan. Both are blissfully unaware of the war raging in Europe. 

As the fighting with Napoleon draws to a close, Cobweb is sent to be a drover’s dog, embarking on a long and precarious journey to London taking hundreds of sheep and cattle to market.  

Together with Goodlad, an older and more experienced dog, Cobweb witnesses the impact of the war and the mixed emotions and consequences that come with the final victory. And then, on the way home, he meets an unexpected stranger who has an incredible story to tell. 

A dog’s-eye view of the world is firmly at the centre of this wonderful, life-affirming tale set in Britain in 1815.  

Although the war is always at the periphery of Cobweb’s journey, this is essentially a story about ordinary people living ordinary lives during a turbulent, bygone era, but animated and energised by brilliant characterisation and a deep understanding of humanity.  

Powerful, moving and absorbing, the book takes inspiration from the true story of a French drummer boy at the Battle of Waterloo, making his experience accessible and relatable.