Publication
NYRB Classics (2007), 452 p.
Collections
Subjects
Description
Witty, urbane, sophisticated treasury of anecdotes, facts and lore about Felis cattus, the domesticated cat. Explores the ubiquitous creature's independent nature, long association with the occult, place in folklore, music, art, fiction, and more. Charmingly illustrated with drawings by Grandville, Steinlen, Beardsley and others.
User reviews
LibraryThing member anna_in_pdx
Several years ago I read a book of essays about reading, called Ex Libris, by Anne Fadiman. She mentioned this book because of its incredible vocabulary. I was intrigued from that point forward and when I happened upon it at Powell's, I had to have it.
Wow, what a lot of fun to read. It's like
Wow, what a lot of fun to read. It's like
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hearing a very opinionated great-uncle who is incredibly well-educated and well-read, and who loves cats entirely too much. Van Vechten goes through various topics in culture and literature and documents attitudes to the cat, along with a lot of judgement of his own as to how those attitudes were more or less right or wrong. He is not just an ailurophile but a Europhile as well, concentrating on French and English litterati and their attitudes about cats. Anne F. was definitely right about the vocabulary. His erudition was staggering. It didn't exactly send me running to the dictionary, as you could figure out 99% of the words from context, but it was a real joy to read something that was obviously written without any regard for readers less educated than himself. So often I think books are deliberately dumbed down. When language is complex, it is often inscrutable as well, and I get the idea the author's trying to hide the fact that he (or she) has nothing to say. Not Van Vechten! He has a lot to say. He has very firm opinions. And they are always on the side of all things feline. Cats can truly do no wrong. Show Less
Language
Original language
English
ISBN
9781590172230
Physical description
452 p.; 5.78 inches
Pages
452