Skip to main content
Listen-and-Read x-book®
Cobweb by Michael Morpurgo x-book

Listen to a sample

00:00
00:00

What to expect

A powerful, moving adventure inspired by the extraordinary true story of the French Drummer Boy of Waterloo, COBWEB is a stunning tale of courage and kindness – a book about humanity, animals, and the heartbreak of war, from a writer at the height of his powers.

'Thank goodness for Michael Morpurgo' ★★★★★ The Telegraph

'Moving, unique and utterly charming. This is why Michael Morpurgo is the nation's favourite storyteller' Hannah Gold, author of The Last Bear

“They call me Cobweb. I’ll tell you why later. I may be a dog, but I know and understand a lot more than people think I do.”

Britain. 1815. After years of loss and sacrifice, the end of the war with Napoleon is approaching.

Cobweb knows nothing of the war – he loves being a young puppy and playing with his owner, Bethan, exploring the countryside and chasing rabbits.

But when he is taken away from Bethan and sold, Cobweb must learn to become a Drover’s Dog – herding sheep and cattle for hundreds of miles on the long, treacherous journey to London.

And after the Napoleonic wars finally come to an end with the Battle of Waterloo, Cobweb meets an unexpected stranger with an incredible tale to tell on his journey home …

Critics Review

  • 'Thank goodness for Michael Morpurgo' ★★★★★ The Telegraph
  • 'Moving, unique and utterly charming. This is why Michael Morpurgo is the nation's favourite storyteller' Hannah Gold, author of The Last Bear
  • 'A hymn to the things that matter: loyalty and love, courage and compassion. This is storytelling that thrums with wisdom and warmth.' Abi Elphinstone
  • 'A truly wonderful story of courage and loyalty, adventure and purpose, and how opening our hearts to people – and dogs – can make us better human beings. No one tells an animal tale like Michael Morpurgo. The reader in me was totally gripped, the dog-lover fell madly in love.' Emma Carroll
See more reviews
  • ‘Warm, wise and wonderful.’ Phil Earle, author of When the Sky Falls
  • 'An appealing tale of a little dog on a big journey. Morpurgo gives us yet another animal adventure to treasure. Cobweb will charm you with his cuteness and impress you with his courage.' Lesley Parr, author of The Valley of Lost Secrets

User Reviews

No reviews yet.

Details

Author
Michael Morpurgo
Narrator
Iestyn Arwel
Duration
2 hours 45 minutes
Release Date
12 September 2024
ISBN
9780008352172
Format
x-book®
Publisher
HarperCollins Publishers
Genre
Children’s / Teenage fiction: Historical fiction, Children’s / Teenage general interest: Warfare, battles, armed forces, Children’s / Teenage emotions: Courage, bravery, hope, Children’s / Teenage general interest: Pets and pet care: Dogs, Children’s / Teenage personal and social topics: Friends and friendships

Synopsis

A powerful, moving adventure inspired by the extraordinary true story of the French Drummer Boy of Waterloo, COBWEB is a stunning tale of courage and kindness – a book about humanity, animals, and the heartbreak of war, from a writer at the height of his powers. 'Thank goodness for Michael Morpurgo' ★★★★★ The Telegraph 'Moving, unique and utterly charming. This is why Michael Morpurgo is the nation's favourite storyteller' Hannah Gold, author of The Last Bear “They call me Cobweb. I’ll tell you why later. I may be a dog, but I know and understand a lot more than people think I do.” Britain. 1815. After years of loss and sacrifice, the end of the war with Napoleon is approaching. Cobweb knows nothing of the war – he loves being a young puppy and playing with his owner, Bethan, exploring the countryside and chasing rabbits. But when he is taken away from Bethan and sold, Cobweb must learn to become a Drover’s Dog – herding sheep and cattle for hundreds of miles on the long, treacherous journey to London. And after the Napoleonic wars finally come to an end with the Battle of Waterloo, Cobweb meets an unexpected stranger with an incredible tale to tell on his journey home …

About xigxag and the x-book®

xigxag is an independent, UK-based audiobook platform and the UK's only B Corp certified audiobook company. We offer nearly 150,000 audiobooks, all with professional human narration. No AI-generated voices. xigxag is rated an Ethical Consumer Best Buy for audiobooks and a top-rated ethical bookshop.

Our x-book® format is the only fully integrated listen-and-read experience available. See the text on screen as you listen, look up words, take notes, search within the book, and share quotes. It is especially useful for accessibility, language learning, and getting more from non-fiction. Look for the purple x-book® ribbon on the cover, or filter your search by "x-book" to find them.

There is no subscription. You buy the audiobooks you want, you own them permanently, and prices start at $13.95. The more you listen over the year, the less you pay per book, and there is always a selection in Listen for Less from $7.95. You can also send audiobooks as gifts using our audiobook gift cards or in-app gifting.

Every audiobook on xigxag has honest reviews covering both the book and the narration, and our community features make it easy to share what you are listening to, discover what others recommend, and find your next listen.

Download or stream on iOS, Android, or in your browser. Browse the full catalogue at xigxag.co.uk.