... Old Possums 'Book Of Practical Cats' is one of my favourite books of T.S.Eliot and it is this book and its cat characters that the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical 'Cats' was based upon.
Cats have characters all of their own and they are each unique and individual. My two cats are brother ... Read review
Advantages: The book that the musical 'Cats' was based upon. Disadvantages: None.
...with illustrations by Nicolas Bentley. Old Possums 'Book Of Practical Cats' is one of my favourite books of T.S.Eliot and it is this book and its cat characters that the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical 'Cats' was based upon.
Cats have characters all of their own and they are each unique and individual. My two cats are brother and sister and they are entirely different in character. I have a blue cat which is the male and he is ... ...nervous cat you could ever meet. Whereas his sister, who is a tortoiseshell, is dainty and like a princess and she demands special treatment at every turn, much to the dismay of my BlueBoy. They are both entirely different characters, but from the same litter; Much like children, cats need names to suit the type of personality and look that they possess.
To call the amazing, beautiful, mysterious, magical, secretive and naughty ... more
A wonderful poetry book about cats.
--T.S.ELIOT- 'OLD POSSUM'S BOOK OF PRACTICAL CATS'-- This is a wonderful book written by T.S.Eliot in 1939, with illustrations by Nicolas Bentley. Old Possums 'Book Of Practical Cats' is one of my favourite books of T.S.Eliot and it is this book and its cat characters that the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical 'Cats' was based upon.
Cats have characters all of their own and they are each unique and individual. My two cats are brother and sister and they are entirely different in character. I have a blue cat which is the male and he is massive, a huge Tomcat, but he is the shyest, most nervous cat you could ever meet. Whereas his sister, who is a tortoiseshell, is dainty and like a princess and she demands special treatment at every turn, much to the dismay of my BlueBoy. They are both entirely different characters, but from the same litter; Much like children, cats need names to suit the type of personality and look that they possess.
To call the amazing, beautiful, mysterious, magical, secretive and naughty housecat 'Kitty', is demeaning the many wonderful and spiritual qualities that this very 'special' creature possesses and in the first poem by T.S.Eliot he poses the question of what actually to name your furry friend in the first place.
'Practical Cats' is written in poetry form of rhythm and rhyme, which appeals greatly to young brains. It is also nonsensical poetry much like Lewis Carroll or Edward Lear. Its sense of fun intrigues and excites young readers. He uses nonsense words like 'Jellicles' made up from his vivid imagination and he was clearly a lover and great understander of the Feline Domesticus.
The first poem deals with the naming of a cat and Eliot says some will call the cat a name such as: 'Peter, or Victor or Bill', a sensible name. Or you could call your cat a fancier name such to suit their character for either 'Gentlemen or Dame' such as: 'Pluto or Electra' a name they could take pride in, feel special with.-
"But I tell you, a cat needs a name that's particular, A name that's peculiar, and more dignified, Else how could he keep his tail perpendicular, Or spread out his whiskers, or cherish his pride?"
This is a lovely poem and finishes with the summary of the name that only the cat knows, his secret, mysterious name, known only to himself.
"When you notice a cat in profound meditation, The reason, I tell you, is always the same: His mind is engaged in a rapt contemplation Of the thought, of the thought, of the thought, of his name: His ineffable effable Effanineffable Deep and inscrutable singular name."
T.S.Eliot
The book carries on in similar vein and deals next with the 'Old Gumbie Cat' who sleeps by day and sits on the stair, or mat, or lies in the sun. But when the house is asleep her days work begins and she creeps to the cellar to train the mice in correct behaviour. She teaches them crochet and music appreciation. Because: "Their behaviour's not good and their manners not nice;" The whole book in done with this lovely humour and great characterisation of human qualities bestowed upon the cat.
The 'Old Gumbie Cat' was a great character. He is a ragged and 'His coat was torn and seedy he was baggy at the knees'. He was scruffy with part of an ear missing. This was a cat that held a reign of 'Terror on the Thames'. He hated Persian and Siamese cats because it was a Persian who took his ear. This is quite a funny poem with good use of the nonsense verse here. I can't write about every single poem but I will pick out a few of my favourites and let you make your own mind up about T.S Eliots 'Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats'.
I love this one I think it is the sense of the ridiculous that captures my imagination here. 'Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer' were a pair of infamous cat burglars, who stole pearl necklaces, trinkets and valuables. They had a particular talent for the 'Smash and Grab'; they were trained 'tightrope walkers and acrobats, quick change comedians and knockabout clowns' and they also had the 'Gift of the gab'. Conning their way into homes they would somersault, backflip, climb and whiz their way through the house like a whirlwind, pocketing everything in sight. The imagery here is very funny and T.S.Eliot has a real gift for painting his picture through his words.
Another one which is a favourite is Macavity: 'The Mystery Cat'. Who is a master criminal who defies the law. Its funny how T.S.Eliot gives his cat's criminal characters. Cats can come across like that, Sneaky and cunning, devious and calculating, our dear moggy friends; Gus the theatre cat is another of my favourites, as is Skimbleshanks, the railway cat. In fact they are all lovely poems with huge imagination behind them. The humour is ridiculous, the verse is nonsense, and the 'Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats' is a book well worth owning.
T.S.Eliot is a man who clearly loved and understood the character of a cat. Cats give their owners a great deal of joy and entertainment just by being what they are and T.S.Eliot has expanded upon their unique traits. This book is a joy and one that every young child would warm to by the nature of its content. My copy of the book is published by Faber and faber, with illustrations by Nicolas Bentley, with 64 pages, the book contains 15 absurd poems of the cat variety ;) This book was written by "T.S.Eliot for his godchildren and friends in their thirties". ISBN 0 571 10558 0.
Delightful and endearing 'Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats' book puts cats firmly where they belong. 'at the top of their tree'.-
Morning_Becomes_Electra 18.05.2008 (18.05.2008)
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Review of Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats - T.S. Eliot
Advantages: An Easily Accessible Collection Of Poetry For All Ages. Disadvantages: None
...but for everyone.
‘The Old Gumbie Cat’
Instantly your introduced to a rather strangely named cat ‘Jennyanydots’. This poem is about a cats antics once all the ‘humans’ are in bed. These are not the antics of a normal cat however because they involves teaching mice music, crocheting and tatting!!! In addition ‘Jennyanydots’ makes them mouse-cake of bread & dried peas. The emphasis of this poem to me is about the mysterious, secretive antics of cats. ... ...Deuteronomy’ is the original ‘Saggy Old Cloth Cat’!!
‘Of The Awful Battle Of The Pekes And The Pollicles’
This poem is the cat version of ‘Romeo & Juliet’ and ‘West Side Story’ it reads as a battle between two opposing families of cats the ‘Pekes’ and the ‘Pollicles’. The poem is a tale of a particular confrontation that is interrupted by the feared ‘Police Dog’. ‘Mr. Mistoffelees’
This is a poem about a ‘Conjuring Cat’, it highlights perfectly ...
charis18uk 31.07.2001 (20.09.2004)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats - T.S. Eliot
Advantages: delightful poems, excellent for children Disadvantages: none at all
Warning: If you expose your children to this book then you are going to end up with some cats with very strange names! Bear in mind that at midnight, you aren't going to relish standing out in your back garden calling for "Rumpleteazer" or "Skimbleshanks."
If you want to introduce your children to poetry, T.S Eliot might not be your first tought - those of us who have studied literature have undoubteld encountered his very dry literary criticism ... ...stuff at all. How the man responsible for th above could also have written this absolute gem I will never know - it only goes to prove what strange creatures we humans are.
T.S Eliot is a man who has clearly lived with cats - he understands their foibbles, their habits and their innate strangeness. While we sleep, cats stalk the world, doing much as they please, and this imaginative collection explores the secret lives of cats. Anyone who has ever ...
Bryn_Pearson 04.10.2001
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The Old Posseum's Book of Practical Cats was first read to me by my Grandmother when i used to stay at her house as a young child. Macavity was my favourite - a bit of a rascal really, followed by Mungojerry and Rumpleteeser! And later to my younger cousins when they stayed there. Can you imagine my delight as a five year old when i discovered the magesty of Andrew Lloyd-Weber's musical?! I have seen it three times now and am each time delighted ...
franki 21.05.2001
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Advantages: Easy to read, great for kids. Disadvantages: if you dislike cats.
This book of poetry is upon which 'Cats, The musical' is based upon. The rythmical reading of Shimbleshanks: the Railway cat is just beautiful and i would suggest any parents with children interested in cats or pets should but this, it'll keep them entertained night after night and they will probably start joining in with funny lines and the clap of the 'train' rhyme. Even if you haven't seen Cats you'll still enjoy this book. If you and children ...
Kickboxer22 30.04.2008
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Advantages: Ideal bedtime reading for a child Disadvantages: None
I was first introduced to T S Eliot's poems about cats by an English teacher at school many years ago. Since then they have become the inspiration for Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Cats".
Now I am introducing them to my young daughter and have just purchased a copy of the original illustrated edition which was first published in 1940.
The language is beautiful and ideal to capture the attention of a child. Adults will derive great pleasure from the skilful ...
KateR 09.08.2000
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