Old Possum's Book Of Practical Cats

by T. S. Eliot, Edward Gorey

Overview

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.

 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780358380153
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	10/08/2019
Sold by:	HARPERCOLLINS
Format:	eBook
Pages:	64
File size:	1 MB
Age Range:	14 - 18 Years

About the Author

THOMAS STEARNS ELIOT was born in St Louis, Missouri, in 1888. He moved to England in 1914 and published his first book of poems in 1917. He received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1948. Eliot died in 1965.

Edward Gorey (1925-2000) wrote and illustrated such popular books as The Doubtful Guest, The Gashlycrumb Tinies, and The Headless Bust. He was also a very successful set and costume designer, earning a Tony Award for his Broadway production of Edward Gorey's Dracula. Animated sequences of his work have introduced the PBS series Mystery! since 1980.

Table of Contents

The Naming of Cats 1

The Old Gumbie Cat 4

Growltiger's Last stand 8

The Rum Tum Tugger 14

The Song of the Jellicles 18

Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer 22

Old Deuteronomy 27

The Pekes and the Pollicles 31

Mr. Mistoffelees 36

Macavity: The Mystery Cat 40

Gus: The Theatre Cat 44

Bustopher Jones: The Cat About Town 49

Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat 52

The Ad-Dressing of cats 58

Cat Morgan Introduces Himself 62

Editorial Reviews

This lively and accessible edition of Eliot's classic homage to felines rounds up the familiar gang, with characters like the sprightly Jellicle Cats, who dance in chorus lines on moonlit rooftops, and the vicious Great Rumpuscat, whose fearsome jaws and eyes like “fireballs fearfully blazing” send rival dog gangs scattering. The distinctive personalities of each cat—brought to life by Scheffler's expressive cartoonlike paintings—and Eliot's lyrical, tongue-and-cheek wordplay, will appeal to a new generation of cat aficionados. Ages 6–9. (Oct.)\

Publishers Weekly

Gr 3 Up—Scheffler brings his considerable illustrative talents to this new edition of Eliot's much-loved collection of cat whimsy, first published in 1939. Scheffler's cartoon felines, with their expressive eyes, are a deliciously animated cast. From sleepy Old Deuteronomy and busy old Gumbie Cat to naughty Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer, they're contrary and complicated. Whether contemplating their secret name, their next crime (like Macavity), or their next meal (like Bustopher Jones), these cats by turns baffle and delight the humans around them. Edward Gorey's version (Harcourt, 1982) captures Eliot's nuanced humor in stylized black-and-white cartoons. Scheffler's illustrations add colorful detail and playfulness, but both editions bring out the timeless wit and wisdom of these poems. Make room for both editions; cat (and even dog) lovers everywhere will welcome Scheffler's marvelous work.—Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA

School Library Journal

"Delightful Learish verse on very English cat characters, with flashes of superior, donnish satire." — The New Yorker

"Enough ferocious fancy and parody to knock the spots off most cat books." — Time

"Mr. Eliot successfully avoides the usual vices of children's books, archness and cuteness; for his cats are practical cats, cats engaged in getting something purposeful done or undone." — The Nation

"An absolutely marvelous rendition of Eliot’s poetic classic, written for his godchildren and friends in the 1930s, which inspired the Broadway musical Cats." — Library Journal (starred review)

From the Publisher