Ratings1
Average rating4
A “fun, fanciful, and even informative” history of felines as revealed by a very learned tabby with a knack for hunting down facts (People).
Since the dawn of civilization, felines have prowled alongside mankind as they expanded their territory and spread the myth of human greatness. And today, cats are peddled on social media as silly creatures here to amuse humans with their antics. But this is an absurd, self-centered fantasy. The true history of felines is one of heroism, love, tragedy, sacrifice, and gravitas. Not entirely convinced? Well, get ready, because Baba the Cat is here to set the record straight.
Spanning almost every continent and thousands—yes, thousands—of years, Baba’s complex story of feline survival presents readers with a diverse cast of cats long forgotten: from her prehistoric feline ancestors and the ancient Egyptian cat goddess Bastet to the daring mariners at the height of oceanic discovery, key intellectuals in the Enlightenment period, revered heroes from World Wars I and II, and the infamous American tabbies. Baba, a talented model in addition to a scholar, goes beyond surface-level scratches, pairing her freshly unearthed research with a series of stunning costume portraits to bring history to life.
A paws-on journey through the feline hall of fame, with in-depth research and four-legged testaments that will make you rethink who defines history, A Cat’s Tale is a one-of-a-kind chronicle that introduces readers to the illustrious ancestors of their closest companions and shows, once and for all, that cats know exactly what they’re doing.
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“You will always be lucky if you know how to make friends with strange cats.”
This was a fun book to read! The format was more of a coffee table book, with easy to read chapters interspersed often with images, relevant newspaper clippings, and photos of the author's cat, Baba, in period-specific costumes. The book is written as if Baba herself is telling the tale (tail?), and it's very much a lighthearted journey through the ups and downs of feline history. Lots of stories are told about the many ways cats have distinguished themselves in history, and I particularly liked the chapter about cats on the high seas.
The afterword includes a message from the author about Baba's history, and even discusses how Baba took to being dressed up (very well, apparently!). I really appreciated the tone of this book, and it was really informative besides.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.