Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot

Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot | 1939 | Houghton Mifflin Harcourt | Hardcover $ 16

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. Includes Edward Gorey’s charming pen and ink illustrations.

This is one of the books on my list for Classics Club. Yes, I’m still working on that! I grabbed this one because it looked both brief and fun — exactly what was needed after tackling both an epic audiobook and an emotionally-draining memoir.

This is a book of short-to-medium poems, all on the subject of cats. Most of the poems are about specific feline personalities (though, to be clear, dogs do make a couple of appearances as well). The poems themselves are still widely read by adults and children alike; the subjects are delightful and the language and meter is generally entertaining. This edition also includes enchanting illustrations by Edward Gorey. But I think it’s possible that the reason these poems are still so famous is because of the musical Cats — first a long-running show on Broadway, more recently a less well-received uncanny movie — which is based on this book.

I have to admit that I don’t have much to say that hasn’t already been said by much more eloquent and informed reviewers than me. Poetry isn’t really my bailiwick. But I know a fun poem when it’s on the page in front of me, and the poems in this book are super accessible and will appeal to just about anyone who is even passingly acquainted with cats.

This is the kind of book you keep on your shelf for a pick-me-up on a rainy day. Or better yet, if you have a young one in your life, you can try reading the poems out loud to them or together. I know I’ll be returning to this one again in the future, hopefully many times.

Links:

• Official website of T.S. Eliot (T.S. Eliot Estate)
• Author profile from the Poetry Foundation
• “An introduction to Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats” from the British Library
• Illustrator profile from the Edward Gorey House

Publication information: Eliot, T.S. Old Possum’s book of practical cats. Boston, Massachusetts: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1982. Print.
Source: Personal library.
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