History Literature / TheHundredAndOneDalmatians

* ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney: At the end of the novel, when trying to find the owners of the other 82 puppies, the Dearlys are surprised to find that no one is looking for them... because they weren't stolen. Cruella simply purchased them legally. It's even mentioned that Cruella paid more to hire professionals to steal the Dearly's puppies than she paid for any litter she outright purchased[[note]]Unlike the Disney adaptation, her bungling minions had no involvement and only showed up much later[[/note]], meaning [[ForTheEvulz the theft was motivated by pure spite]].

Pongo and Missis are a pair of married Dalmatians who have just become the parents of a litter of fifteen. They belong to a newlywed couple, Mr. and Mrs. Dearly, who live in a tiny place near Regent's Park. Their domestic happiness comes under siege, however, when Cruella de Vil, a RichBitch and distant acquaintance of Mrs. Dearly (with an inordinate love of fur), attempts to buy the puppies. When she's told that they're not for sale, she hires thieves to kidnap them. When [[PoliceAreUseless Scotland Yard is unable to find them]], Pongo and Missis set out to rescue their puppies themselves, following a tip gained through the secret, nationwide "Twilight Barking" network of dogs.

The anxious parents find that Cruella has imprisoned their puppies in her country estate (along with 82 she had previously acquired), with the intent to skin them and make spotted Dalmatian-skin coats. Pongo and Missis rescue them all and return home triumphant with 97 puppies in tow. A rescued nurse-dog named Perdita and her long-lost beau round out their numbers to 101, and the Dearlys end up buying the same country estate where the pups were originally held prisoner.

* BecauseYouWereNiceToMe: Cruella's cat takes a liking to the Dearlys, and by assossiation the dalmatians, because unlike Cruella, the Dearleys treated her with kindness. She proves essential in the climax, when she both gets her revenge on Cruella and repays the kindness by helping the dalmatians destroy all of Cruella's furs and driving her to economic ruin.

%% * GettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the future, please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.

* IllGirl: Cadpig. She's delicate and weaker than other puppies, thus requiring special care, though she's stronger than most of them in spirit.
** Averted in the sequel, where the adult Cadpig is a healthy and energetic dog, and her spirit remains unchanged from her puppy days.

* DoesThisRemindYouOfANything: Cruella, in keeping with her "devil" theme, has an [[PyroManiac above-average]] fascination with heat and fire. At one point in the novel she temporarily drops the chase for the dalmatians and ''stands on the roof of her car'' to watch a bakery burn. Though nothing is ever stated, older readers might note that her glee takes on a tint of sexual excitement and ecstasy. It was in fact so obvious that at least one audio drama adaptation changed the scene into more of an example of EvilIsPetty. The ecstasy angle with its sexual hints is completely dropped; instead Cruella stops to watch the bakery burn because it's so ''hilarious'' to see the panicked people running back and forth and trying to put it out.

* TookALevelInDumbass: The Colonel in the sequel. In the original book, Pongo mistakes him for a bumbler at first but he soon reveals himself as a very smart and competent dog. In the sequel, he's become a genuine bumbler and far less smart than he himself thinks, needing Captain (formerly Lieutenant) Willow to explain things when he misunderstands them -- a very clear ShoutOut to their characterisations in the [[WesternAnimation/OneHundredAndOneDalmatians Disney movie]].