Book of Cats

A charmingly self-aware Victorian attempt to justify why the world needs yet another book about cats. Charles Henry Ross opens with a wry account of his friends' merciless mockery when he announced his ambitious project: wasn't there already a hundred cat books? What did he know about cats anyway? Why not write about dogs, horses, or pigs? Undeterred (or at least temporarily discouraged), Ross proceeds to deliver exactly what he promised: a book about cats. The result is a warm, conversational collection of feline observations, anecdotes, and affectionate portraits that embraces its own slight absurdity. Written with the self-deprecating humor characteristic of Victorian essayists, it captures the peculiar certainty of cat lovers who know their subject despite what skeptical friends might say. For readers who enjoy gentle humor, Victorian domestic life, or simply want to spend time with someone who genuinely loves cats.