Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats
The inspiration for the iconic musical Cats, T. S. Eliot's classic and delightful collection of poetry about cats, with whimsical illustrations by Edward Gorey.
These playful verses by a celebrated poet have delighted readers and cat lovers around the world since they were gathered for publication in 1939.
As Valerie Eliot has pointed out, there are a number of references to cats in T.S. Eliot's work, but it was to his godchildren, particularly Tom Faber and Alison Tandy, that he first revealed himself as "Old Possum" and for whom he composed his poems.
This captivating edition is a curious and artful homage to felines young and old, merry and fierce, small and unmistakably round. Also includes Edward Gorey's charming pen and ink illustrations. Gorey gives a fresh intepretation of "Mr. Mistoffelees," "Growltiger," "The Rum Tum Tugger," "Bustopher Jones," "Skimbleshanks," "Macavity: the Mystery Cat," and a variety of other memorable feline strays all of whom have been brought to life on the stage in the hit musical Cats.
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Community Reviews
Fun read with cats!
Could be a good storytime book, some of the poems.
I love cats. I gush about cats. I wear cat shirts. I have a monthly subscription to the CatLadyBox. I'm not allowed to go to the Humane Society because I would likely come home with all the cats, which would likely cause my older cat to maul me in my sleep.
Now THIS is my kind of T.S. Eliot.
Readable and silly. Each poem a ridiculous little story of a different cat. Perfectly pegged characteristics and personalities of cats. The best cat names I've ever laid eyes upon.
Note to self: next cat WILL be named Asparagus, Gus for short.
Gus is the Cat at the Theatre Door.
His name, as I ought to have told you before,
Is really Asparagus. That's such a fuss
To pronounce, that we usually call him just Gus.
His coat's very shabby, he's thin as a rake,
And he suffers from palsy that makes his paw shake.
Yet he was, in his youth, quite the smartest of Cats-
But no longer a terror to mice and rats.
For he isn't the Cat that he was in his prime;
Though his name was quite famous, he says, in its time.
Honorable mention to Edward Gorey for the purrfect (you know I simply couldn't resist) illustrations accompanying each poem.
Almost makes me want to re-read [b:The Waste Land and Other Poems|400412|The Waste Land and Other Poems|T.S. Eliot|https:i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1372992691l/400412._SY75_.jpg|15306654] to see if I was wrong. Almost.
4 Stars
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