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.

These lovable cat poems were written by T. S. Eliot for his godchildren and continue to delight children and adults alike. This collection is a curious and artful homage to felines young and old, merry and fierce, small and unmistakably round. This is the ultimate gift for cat and poetry lovers.

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

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