Sophie From Romania

Author Rory Cellan-Jones
Narrator Rory Cellan-Jones
Publisher Random House
Publish Date 10 October 2024
Run Time 8 hours and 20 minutes
Format Audio
Genre Animal life stories, Autobiography: writers, Biography and non-fiction prose, Dogs as pets, Memoirs.

Listen to a sample

What to expect

Brought to you by Penguin.

How do you welcome someone new into your home and heart? A week before Christmas, newly
retired BBC journalist and award-winning Movers and Shakers podcaster Rory Cellan-Jones receives a special delivery that will change the course of his life. This is the story of #SophieFromRomania, told in full for the first time.

In January 2022, the Cellan-Jones-Coyle family said goodbye to their beloved elderly Collie cross, Cabbage. She and Rory had become inseparable during daily pandemic walks, which alleviated his
Parkinson’s symptoms. After a grief-stricken year, Rory and his wife Diane come across a listing for
‘a kind girl who loves everybody and is just looking for her forever home’.

Bright-eyed, big-eared and trembling, Sophie arrives in London on 17 December 2022. Rory holds the Romanian rescue in his arms, excited for their first walk together – but the road ahead will be a long one . . . This book follows the real journey of Sophie’s adoption – from her battles with anxiety, to the joys of play and her first time outside – as Rory and Diane work with expert dog trainer Si to win Sophie’s trust, and navigate Rory’s Parkinson’s disease.

This is a moving story of love, kindness and a lot of patience, paying tribute to rescue dogs and their tender community.

'A DAILY DOSE OF HOPE' Jojo Moyes

'FILLS MY HEART WITH SO MUCH JOY' Niall Harbison

© Rory Cellan-Jones 2024 (P) Penguin Audio 2024

Critics Review

I am one of the many who has followed the story of Sophie from Romania. Those of us who adopted traumatised rescue dogs know that their story is one of patience, perseverance, and frequent setbacks. But what Sophie, Rory and Diane have also shown is the utter joy and reward that comes with every step forward. In a dark time, their story has given all of us a daily dose of hope, and a reminder of the importance - and endurance - of kindness.

Jojo Moyes, author of 'Me Before You'

I find myself rushing online to see what little Sophie has been up to... It fills my heart with so much joy. A wonderful dog, rescued by beautifully patient humans. Everything that is good about life.

Niall Harbison, author of 'Hope'

A love story of sorts... A tale of a besotted middle-aged man - former BBC technology correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones - and Sophie, a rescue dog from Romania, the pointy-eared object of his affection

Daily Mail

Olive and Mabel are fascinated by Sophie's journey, firmly believing that sofas are to be slept on, rather than hidden behind and are excited to hear her story being read to them by their human assistant.

Andrew Cotter, author of 'Olive and Mabel'

This is a loving, moving, honest book about the incredible patience required to build up trust with a traumatised dog, and the love that builds on both sides

Mail on Sunday, *Books of the Year*

We're cat people, not dog people. But it turned out to be a great read. Not just because it is a salutary tale about what you let yourself in for when adopting a rescue dog. But also because it's also about how Rory is dealing with Parkinson's and Movers and Shakers, the remarkable podcast series he started with several friends who also have the condition.

Observer

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