Rene Guillot (1900–1969)

I remember this book from my childhood with great fondness. I guess I was ten or so when I received it as a Christmas present from my teacher, who knew that I was crazy about cats. It made quite an impression. More than fifty years later, I tried to track it down again, only to find that there are many other books with the same title. But persistence pays off, and finally, after several years of searching, I identified the right book and tracked down a copy.

It’s quite a competent little adventure. Maou is perhaps a bit too human-like in his thinking and attitudes, and the story has moments that are darker than I had remembered, but on re-reading, I can understand why it appealed to ten-year-old me.… (mais)