Rodney Dale

Another library sale find; one I'd never seen before, but really it's a book about cats. In books. How bad could it possibly be?

It's a gem! The only reason I didn't rate it a bit higher is because it's a rather too concise overview of cats in literary history. It's a slim volume; easy to read in one sitting. Rather than looking at cats as subjects in literature, it sticks to an illustrative perspective: cats in illuminated manuscripts, fables, short stories and, of course, children's literature. It's fully illustrated itself, of course, with examples for each entry. A nice edition from the British Library.

As I said, a gem of a find; one of those karmic gifts that make library sales even better.… (mehr)

A lovely souvenir of my trip to Philadelphia. A small book lavishly illustrated with cat illustrations that range from Jim Davis' Garfield all the way back to the unnamed artist who put cats into the illuminated manuscripts of "The Book of Kells."

Each artist is examined along with samples of characteristic cat art. Includes Dick Whittington, Puss in Boots, Struwwelpeter, Edward Lear, Lewis Carroll, Dr. Seuss, and so much else. The textual treatment is shorter than I would have liked, but it is a small book after all. Overall, I found it wonderful and beautiful.… (mehr)