The Times Book of Church Cats - Hardcover

Surman, Richard

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0006281230 ISBN 13: 9780006281238

Publisher: Fount, 1999

Synopsis

Following the success of CATHEDRAL CATS, Richard Surman’s new book, CHURCH CATS, promises to be even more appealing with the beautiful cat portraits it captures.

Richard Surman has toured the ecclesiastical sites of Britain photographing cats in abbeys, priories, churches and minsters. For this book he has focused on the larger, close -up portraits of cats which people seem to love, making it a sumptuous coffee table book, with plenty of lovable characters.

Each of the 20 chapters begins with a line drawing of the church, followed by 2 or 3 photographs of the cats that live there. Richard Surman tells their stories with sensitive and often humorous commentary.

CATHEDRAL CATS has sold 25,000 copies since 1993 (6,000 of these in the recent paperback). COLLEGE CATS and CASTLE CATS did slightly less well, and our sales reports indicate that the Church market makes all the difference to the success of these books.

About this title

Review:

‘A fascinating compilation of true stories about cats with an ecclesiastical persuasion.’
-Catworld

From the Back Cover:

In the tradition of 'Cathedral Cats,' Richard Surman now brings us another collection of wonderful feline characters.

Continuing his quest for cats that live in unusual places, he has turned his attention to cats of a more general ecclesiastical persuasion: those that live in abbeys, priories, churches and ministers.

Encountering cats of Franciscan origin at Brecon, he discovered that not even the monastic tradition could prevent Buonaventura from wreaking havoc at a wedding. In contrast, the monastic cats of Buckfast Abbey live in blissful serenity amidst a profusion of honey and gentle liturgy. At St Fagan's, Korky – perhaps mindful of the Commandments – stoutly refuses to catch mice.

At Tewkesbury, he learned of the undignified exit of Rosa Mystica from Abbey life. He also discovered two most demure-looking Burmese cats guarding the entrance to St Michael's Church, Ledbury.

At West Ham's All Saints, he came across a rumbustuous feline West Ham supporter, whilst St Mary-le-Bow's Minou demonstrated the finer aspects of cat behaviour.

About this edition

• Publisher: Fount
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0006281230
• ISBN 13: 9780006281238
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 96