Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats (FF Classics) (Faber Children's Classics)

by T. S. Eliot

Axel Scheffler (Illustrator)

A stunning new edition of T. S. Eliot's beloved cat poems Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, containing beautiful original colour illustrations by Axel Scheffler.

Cats! Some are sane, some are mad and some are good and some are bad.

Meet magical Mr Mistoffelees, sleepy Old Deuteronomy and curious Rum Tum Tugger. But you'll be lucky to meet Macavity because Macavity's not there!

In 1925 T.S. Eliot became co-director of Faber & Faber, who remain his publishers to this day. Throughout the 1930s he composed the now famous poems about Macavity, Old Deuteronomy, Mr Mistoffelees and many other cats, under the name of 'Old Possum'. In 1981 Eliot's poems were set to music by Andrew Lloyd Webber as Cats which went on to become the longest-running Broadway musical in history.

'If cats, witchy or not, are your child's thing don't miss the new Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats.' The Times

'A lovely edition of an old favourite . . . it will be enjoyed again and again.' Carousel

'Classic cat poems . . . are given a delightful new look.' LoveReading4Kids

• ISBN10: 0571302289
• ISBN13: 9780571302284
• Publish Date: 5 September 2013 (first published December 1953)
• Publish Status: Active
• Out of Print: 31 March 2021
• Publish Country: GB
• Imprint: Faber & Faber
• Edition: Main
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 72
• Language: English

Reviews

[Jo]

Originally posted on Once Upon a Bookcase.

Ever since seeing the recording of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical of Cats, I've been intrigued by the book of poems the musical was inspired by, Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot. It's a charming book of poetry that will delight child and adult alike - especially those who love cats!

It was great to see familiar characters within the poems, such as Macavity, and Munojerrie and Rumpelteazer, who were very memorable from the musical. Was sad to see Grizabella - the cat who sings Memory in the musical - doesn't actually feature in the original poetry book, but there are quite a few characters that did originate from Practical Cats. From what I remember, the lyrics are pretty close to the original poems, so I would hear the the music in my head as I read. Saying that, there's no storyline like there is in the musical; no Jellicle Ball, no cat being chosen to go to the Heaviside Layer to be reborn by Old Deutronomy.

Axel Scheffler's illustrations are quirky and familiar from the picture books Scheffler has illustrated. Seeing what the cats get up to along with the poems will have young children giggling as they're being read to.

A wonderful book of poetry, and a great addition to any bookcase.

Thank you to Faber & Faber for the review copy.

[clairelm]

And we all say....
As a massive fan of Cats the musical and having been to see it recently, I sang all of these wonderful, jolly poems by T.S. Eliot. From Macavity to the Naming of Cats, some of the Jellicle Cats are described in wonderful poetry, accompanied by gorgeous illustrations which bring the poems to life.