On Cats

<b>For centuries cats have been worshipped adored and mistrusted in equal measure. This beautiful gift book contains a selection of essays stories and poems on cats by writers from across the ages.</b> <p/>In these pages writers reflect on the curious feline qualities that inspire such devotion in their owners even when it seems one-sided. Cats' affections are hard-won and often fickle. Freud considered his cat an embodiment of true egoism; Hilaire Belloc found peace in his feline companion's complacency; and Hemingway--a famous cat-lover--wrote of drinking with his eleven cats and the pleasant distraction they gave him. <p/>Edward Gorey can't turn down a stray despite the trouble they cause him and admits he has no idea what they're thinking about; Muriel Spark gives practical advice on how to teach a cat to play ping-pong; Nikola Tesla who helped design the modern electricity supply system describes a seminal experience with a cat that first sparked his fascination with electricity; and Caitlin Moran considers the unexpected feelings of loss after the death of her family cat. <p/>These writers and many others (including Mary Gaitskill Alice Walker Ursula K. Le Guin John Keats James Bowen Lynne Truss and more) paint a joyful portrait of cats and their mysterious and loveable ways. As Hemingway wrote one cat leads to another. The book features six black-and-white cat portraits by photographer Elliot Ross.