Secrets of the Cat: Its Lore, Legend, and Lives - Softcover

Holland, Barbara

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0061978043 ISBN 13: 9780061978043

Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks, 2010

Synopsis

The more-or-less domestic feline intrigues us as no other animal can. But what is going on behind those luminous eyes? Barbara Holland reveals a refreshingly candid view of cats: their history, lore, intelligence, and relations with people and each other. This is a lively appreciation of cats as you know them, with witty analysis and fresh observations about felines both high and low - including Winston Churchill's ginger tom, who attended cabinet meetings; Teddy Roosevelt's cat Slippers, who came to dinner; and, even the author's own cat George II, who was bitten by a mouse and adopted by a blue jay. Barbara Holland's warm, vivid speculations on their life and times, their social, psychic, and mythological legacy, and their impenetrable mysteries, offer a delightful and loving cat's eye view of the world.

About this title

Review:

“Smart, bright, well-written....A book about cats as good as this one is rare.” (Smithsonian)

“May be the most elegantly written, witty, perceptive statement about felines ever published.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

“Charming....Will soften the heart of even a certified ailurophobe.” (Publishers Weekly)

“Perhaps the best aspect of the book, combined with Holland’s style, is the appropriately low-grade temperature of the cat/human philosophizing―nicely situated between Sartre and Wild Kingdom.” (Trenton NJ Times)

“An absolutely wonderful and sometimes hilarious and always soulful book.” (Mademoiselle)

From the Back Cover:

What is really going on behind thoseluminous feline eyes?

Affectionate yet aloof, intelligentand inquisitive yet dangerouslycareless, the more-or-lessdomesticated house catintrigues us as no other animal can.Now Barbara Holland offers cat loversa fascinating, funny, and refreshinglycandid look at their feline companions:their history, lore, and secrets, and theircomplicated relations with people andwith each other.

Secrets of the Cat is a livelyappreciation of cats as we know andlove them, with witty analysis and freshobservations about felines both high andlow. Here are Winston Churchill’s gingertom, who attended cabinet meetings;Teddy Roosevelt’s cat, Slippers, whocame to dinner; and even the author’sown George II, who was bitten by amouse and adopted by a blue jay. BarbaraHolland’s warm, vivid speculations oncats’ lives and times—on their social,psychic, and mythological legacy, and theirimpenetrable mysteries—will give readersa delightful cat’s-eye view of the world.

About this edition

• Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 0061978043
• ISBN 13: 9780061978043
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 240