author
Alfred Elwes
d. 1888
A Victorian man of letters, he wrote lively children's fiction while also working as a teacher, philologist, and translator of European literature. His books often reflect a strong interest in languages, travel, and storytelling across cultures.
3 Audiobooks
The Adventures of a Cat, and a Fine Cat Too!
by Alfred Elwes
The Adventures of a Dog, and a Good Dog Too
by Alfred Elwes
The Adventures of a Bear, and a Great Bear Too
by Alfred Elwes
About the author
Born in Woolwich in 1819, Alfred Elwes was a British writer whose work ranged across children's literature, novels, language books, and translation. He studied at Leiden in the Netherlands and later built a career shaped by his expertise in European languages.
Elwes wrote for young readers as well as adults, and he also translated French, Italian, and Portuguese works into English. He is especially remembered for bringing continental and medieval stories to English readers, including a translation of the Arthurian romance Jaufry the Knight and the Fair Brunissende.
His writing shows a broad, curious mind: part teacher, part scholar, and part storyteller. He died in Kensington in December 1888, leaving behind a varied body of work that connects Victorian reading tastes with a wider European literary world.