My boyfriend's grandma definitely has something of a whirlwind. Most of her energy she derives from her seemingly insatiable enthusiasm for things. So recently she came swirling in, flung herself into an armchair that immediately rolled back and knocked over a shelf that dared to be in its way! Fortunately, nothing was broken or damaged in any way. Every force of nature, however, does not only have a destructive side, but also a creative and renewing influence on its surroundings - when we collected the things that have fallen out of the shelf and were scattered over the floor, I've found this lovely little book again! I read it in the course of an afternoon (it's really thin) and it highly amused me (and still does!).

T.S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats is a compilation of fifteen poems concerning the society and manners of cats, largely based on the description of certain groups or outstanding characters. They were published 1939 and later on served as an inspiration for the popular musical Cats. 

The book starts with the issue of "The Naming of Cats", claiming every cat has at least three names - one is given to it by the family he lives with, one is its fancy name ("But I tell you, a cat needs a name that's particular, / A name that's peculiar, and more dignified, / Else how can he keep up his tail perpendicular, / Or spread out his whiskers, or cherish his pride?") and the last one is known only to the cat itself... We realise cats are truly complex beings - very much like ourselves!

"Growltiger's Last Stand" narrates the story of Growltiger, a fierce and feared bully of a cat, also called "The Terror of the Thames". Like many other great fellows before him, his affection for a lady was fatal - while wooing for Griddlebone, he was surprised by his enemies: 

Growltiger had no eye or ear for aught but Griddlebone.

And the Lady seemed enraptured by his manly baritone,

Disposed to relaxation, and awaiting no surprise -

But the moonlight shone reflected from a thousand bright blue eyes.

And closer still and closer the sampans circled round,

And yet from all the enemy there was not heard a sound.

The lovers sang their last duet, in danger of their lives -

For the foe was armed with toasting forks and cruel carving knives.

Now that is true suspense! What we witness here is a great criminal caught in a moment of weakness...

Two other figures from the cat's low-life society are Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer, definitely one of my favourite characters from the whole book. They're burglars and love to make a mess in human households, vexing upper-class families by snatching jewelleries and even whole meals... But they also do not fail to entertain and have a great reputation as "knockabout clowns, quick-change comedians, tight-rope walkers and acrobats" who love to chat and spread rumours.

The story "Of the Awfull Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles, together with some Account of the Participation of the Pugs and the Poms, and the Intervention of the Great Rumpuscat" tells about a fierce street fight between cats and dogs without further notice of the police. I just love that title!

Probably the most famous cat of the whole book is "Mr Mistofelees", you might have the same childhood memories of his song in the musical :-)

All the other cats I've not mentioned are the "Old Gumbie Cat", who is responsible to keep a household in order, the "Rum Tum Tugger", a mischievous cat with a strong will, the Jellicles (the party folk among the cats) "Old Deuteronomy", something like a Methusalem, Macavity, a master criminal, Gus, an old actor on the theater, Bustopher Jones, the self-important and well-fed upper class cat, Skimbleshanks, the train conductor cat and Cat Morgan, a retired pirate.

Priceless is also "The Ad-Dressing of Cats", a social codex for human beings on how to interact with a cat, and, once again, a clear distinction to dogs that are supposedly more inferior than cats.

It soon becomes clear that these poems are, in fact, a satire on human society:
You now have learned enough to see  
That Cats [notice the capital letter!] are much like you and me
And other people whom we find 
Possessed of various types of mind.
For some are sane and some are mad
And some are good and some are bad
And some are better, some are worse - 
But all may be described in verse.
And true, all these character types seem rather familar from literature, don't they?

Apart from all enthusiasm about this little whimsical book, you should bear in mind one thing - it was written in the 1930ies and contains in some passages contemporary ethical stereotypes and imperialistic viewpoints. I've mentioned before the "Awfull Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles" - it clearly alludes to the various immigrants of mixed ethnicity, battling (and massacring) each other openly without notice of the police. Only the appearance of the "Great Rumpuscat", some dubious underground lord ruling these parts of the city, immediately stops the fighting. Another example of ethnical clichés can be found in "Growltiger's Last Stand", in which "a fierce Mongolian horde" and "Chinks" lie in ambush to capture Growltiger.

However, The Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats is a highly entertaining read and far more than a simple collection of nursery rhymes. Its characteristic features are a keen eye of human behaviour and sharp irony in the use of language. It's definitely a must for lovers of English children's literature!