The Cat: an illustrated autobiography (Decatur Dixon Classics) (Animal Biographies)

The Cat, an Illustrated Autobiography follows the adventures and witty remarks on life and love as seen by Loki, a very British cat. Written by the hilarious, totally original, and passionate artist/writer Isobel Violet Hunt, this book reflects the experiences of women seeking freedom, fresh adventures, and contact with the real world. Through Loki's eyes, we see the life Hunt would later write about in White Rose of Weary Leaf (1908), which takes advantage of Hunt's ability to use an intricate storytelling technique to present the life of a young Cicely Yeoland as she navigates love, desire, and the contradictory social expectations of late 19th century England. Readers will find The Cat, an Illustrated Autobiography a very readable, relatable, and surprising novella that is perfect for reading, and laughing!, alone or out loud.

As feminist and freedom fighter, Hunt was a member of both Women Writers' Suffrage League (WWSL) a writers’ group focused on establishing the right to vote, and International PEN, a group dedicated to intellectual cooperation and protecting freedom of expression. Perhaps best known today for her stories of the supernatural such as Tales of the Uneasy, Hunt was also a curator of sorts, hosting a literary salon featuring Ezra Pound, Somerset Maugham, Ford Maddox Ford, and Rebecca West among others. The Cat, an Illustrated Autobiography fits in nicely with quality literary works by these friends.

Violet Hunt was a fierce literary force and unapologetic trailblazer of the early 20th century-a novelist, feminist, salon host, and muse who defied convention at every turn. Born into an artistic family and raised among the Pre-Raphaelites, she carved out a bold career writing ghost stories, feminist fiction, and scandal-laced autobiographical novels that blurred the line between life and literature. Her legendary London salons attracted literary giants like Henry James and Ezra Pound, while her fiery love affairs with H.G. Wells and Ford Madox Ford fed the gossip pages-and inspired characters in some of the century's most iconic novels. Founder of the Women Writers' Suffrage League and early member of PEN, Hunt wasn't just ahead of her time-she helped shape it.

Lula Crowder is a contemporary illustrator and visual storyteller celebrated for her evocative reinterpretations of classic literature. Based on her portfolio of illustrated classics-including Frankenstein; or, the Modern Prometheus, Stefan Zweig's Chess, Bartleby, the Scrivener, R.U.R., Pan, The Light Princess, and Pierre and Jean-Crowder brings a modern, dreamy aesthetic to enduring texts .