Eliot’s famous collection of nonsense verse about cats-the inspiration for the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Cats. This edition features pen-and-ink drolleries by Edward Gorey throughout.
Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats
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Book Description
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Editorial Reviews
From Library Journal
This is an absolutely marvelous rendition of Eliot's poetic classic, written for his godchildren and friends in the 1930s, which inspired the Broadway musical Cats. The tales of Mr. Mistoffelees the trickmaster, old Deuteronomy, a laid-back cat, Rum Tum Tugger, a contrary cat, and Macavity, the famous master criminal, are dramatized by Richard Briers, Alan Cumming, Nigel Davenport, Andrew Sachs, and Juliet Stevenson. Unfortunately, some material is repeated on the cassette's second side. Moreover, it comes with another tape that consists of excerpts of forthcoming Penguin audiobooks. This edition seems targeted more toward consumers than libraries.?James Dudley, Copiague, N.Y.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
One can't say much for the kind of feline society Mr. Eliot keeps, but his verses are very entertaining and smack a bit of Archie and Mehitabel, of Gilbert and of Lewis Carroll. Written with gusto and humor. (Kirkus Reviews )
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
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More About the Author
Thomas Stearns Eliot was born in 1888 in St. Louis, Missouri, and became a British subject in 1927. The acclaimed poet of The Waste Land, Four Quartets, and Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, among numerous other poems, prose, and works of drama, won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1948. T.S. Eliot died in 1965 in London, England, and is buried in Westminster Abbey.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
30 of 32 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
"Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats," by T.S. Eliot, is a book of poems about cats. The basis for the wildly successful musical "Cats," the book stands on its own as a delightful work of literature. The poems are accompanied by wonderful illustrations by Edward Gorey.
This book is hilarious and very enjoyable. Eliot's words leap and dance across the pages with a zany musicality. Gorey's accompanying artwork is whimsical and full of interesting details. Eliot has created some great feline characters: the fearsome Growltiger, dapper Bustopher Jones, Magical Mr. Mistoffelees, and more.
Yes, these poems are great fun to read. But if you are inclined to look closer and analyze them at a deeper literary level, you will find that each one is a masterpiece of poetic craftsmanship. Eliot uses a wonderful variety of meters, rhyme schemes, and various poetic effects. Each poem stands on its own, and together they form an effective artistic unity.
Also noteworthy is the very "English" flavor of the book, which Eliot achieves by spicing his poems with many references to English geography and cultural history. Highly recommended, whether or not you like cats.
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
OK, the musical has been going on and on for some time now, PBS has it on tape, but have you actually sat down and read these poems out loud? My daughter of 5 years watched Cats on PBS and loved it, and enjoyed hearing the poems as well for bedtime reading. TS Eliot as a childrens' book - well, why not? if not as well for yourself!
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Edward Gorey brought this collection of T.S. Eliot's verse to life in a new way. I strongly recommend both this edition and the old illustrated edition with illustrations by Nicholas Bentley.
Gorey brings his wry humour and pathos to bear on poetry that deserves multiple interpretations. Bentley brought a more straight reading to the work, but did a great job nonetheless.
Also, HARD TO FIND but well worth it are the childrens' picture-book versions by Errol Le Cain of Growltiger's Last Stand with The Pekes and the Pollicles and the Song of the Jellicles and Mr Mistoffelees with Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer. These are stunning picture-books that I sought out to own as an adult with no kids and no intention of having any, simply because I loved them.
Gorey brings his wry humour and pathos to bear on poetry that deserves multiple interpretations. Bentley brought a more straight reading to the work, but did a great job nonetheless.
Also, HARD TO FIND but well worth it are the childrens' picture-book versions by Errol Le Cain of Growltiger's Last Stand with The Pekes and the Pollicles and the Song of the Jellicles and Mr Mistoffelees with Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer. These are stunning picture-books that I sought out to own as an adult with no kids and no intention of having any, simply because I loved them.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats Old Possum's Book of Practical...
Such a fun book ... I bought it because I love the illustrations, but happily, it turned out to be great in its own right (write - smile).
Published 1 day ago by "Bickus"
4.0 out of 5 stars
Missing
This would have gotten 5 stars but it does not include Cat Morgan, who introduced himself in the 1952 edition.
Published 13 days ago by Ms. S. P. Aldrich
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Book
Easy and fun to read. Any cat lover will enjoy it. The book is paperback and of good quality. Thanks.
Published 21 days ago by Richard J. Miller
5.0 out of 5 stars
Unhappy with the condition of the book, otherwise good
I didn't realize how old this book was, so when I opened it completely, some of the pages came apart from the binding. Read more
Published 28 days ago by v. last
5.0 out of 5 stars
When I was just a little boy....
... my mother read this book to me as bedtime stories. I laid there on my back and dreamt myself into the stories in a way I think was the intension when T.S. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Bjorn Ulfvenskold
5.0 out of 5 stars
Book for Cats
This book is a must have for any fans of the Broadway hit Cats. My kids listen to the Cats Original Broadway Cast Recording over and over. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Kathryn
5.0 out of 5 stars
Clever poems, great illustrations
This collection of cat poems originally written by T.S. Eliot for various godchildren and later collected and illustrated by Edward Gorey is a delight for ages 9 to 90. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Sarah Isto
5.0 out of 5 stars
gift
My mother loves classics. This was a gift to her and she has read and shared to book with almost all of her 10 children. It was fun to compare this with the movie, Cats.
Published 1 month ago by Lane Frank
5.0 out of 5 stars
good reading
very enjoyable reading to pass a bit of time explains a bit about the play--cats. a must for anyone who loves cats.
Published 1 month ago by D. BECK
3.0 out of 5 stars
Curiosity?
Went to see the play CATS! After leaving I needed to find out what it was all about. This gave me the answer.
Published 1 month ago by Allyson
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 1
book:
4
books
cite this book:
- Dick Whittington by Troll Books on page 43
- Inverne's Stage & Screen Trivia: The Greatest Entertainment Trivia Book Ever... by James Inverne on page 31
- The Waste Land and Other Writings (Modern Library Classics) by T.S. Eliot in Front Matter
- The Best Pet Name Book Ever! by Wayne Bryant Eldridge on page 13
- J. Henry Shorthouse, "The Author of John Inglesant" (with reference to T. S. Eliot and C. G. Jung) by Charles W. Spurgeon in Front Matter
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