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{{Short description|1977 book by Richard Adams}}
[[Image:ShipsCat.JPG|thumb|first edition]]
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox book
| italic title = <!--(see above)-->
| name = The Ship's Cat
| image = Image:ShipsCat.JPG
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = First edition cover
| author = [[Richard Adams]]
| audio_read_by =
| title_orig = The Adventures & Brave Deeds Of The Ship's Cat On The Spanish Maine: Together With The Most Lamentable Losse Of The Alcestis & Triumphant Firing Of The Port Of Chagres
| orig_lang_code =
| title_working =
| translator =
| illustrator = [[Alan Aldridge]]
| cover_artist = Alan Aldridge
| country = United Kingdom
| language = English
| series =
| release_number =
| subject =
| genre =
| set_in =
| published = 1977
| publisher = [[Jonathan Cape]] (UK)
| publisher2 = [[Alfred A. Knopf]] (US)
| pub_date =
| english_pub_date =
| media_type = Print (hardcover)
| pages =
| awards =
| isbn = 978-0-224-01441-0
| isbn_note = (first edition, UK)
| oclc =
| dewey =
| congress =
| preceded_by =
| followed_by =
| native_wikisource =
| wikisource =
| notes =
| exclude_cover =
| website =
}}


'''''The Adventures & Brave Deeds Of The Ship's Cat On The Spanish Maine: Together With The Most Lamentable Losse Of The Alcestis & Triumphant Firing Of The Port Of Chagres''''' is the full title of '''The Ship's Cat''', a [[narrative poem]] by [[Richard Adams]] with illustrations by [[Alan Aldridge]], first published in 1977 by [[Jonathan Cape]]. It describes the adventures of an [[anthropomorphized]] [[Elizabethan]] [[ship's cat]].
'''''The Ship's Cat''''', also known under its full title of '''''The Adventures & Brave Deeds Of The Ship's Cat On The Spanish Maine: Together With The Most Lamentable Losse Of The Alcestis & Triumphant Firing Of The Port Of Chagres''''', is a 1977 children's [[narrative poem]] that was written by [[Richard Adams]] with illustrations by [[Alan Aldridge]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yWwOAQAAMAAJ&q=%22Ship%27s+Cat%22+Adams|title=The Book review digest: Annual cumulation|last1=Fanning|first1=Clara Elizabeth|last2=Jackdon|first2=Margaret|last3=Company|first3=H. W. Wilson|last4=Reely|first4=Mary Katharine|last5=James|first5=Mertice May|date=1978-01-01|publisher=The H. W. Wilson company|page=8|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5g00AAAAIAAJ&q=%22Ship%27s+Cat%22+Adams|title=Review: The Ship's Cat|date=1977-01-01|publisher=[[The Contemporary Review]]/A. Strahan|page=335|language=en}}</ref> The book was first published through [[Jonathan Cape]] and describes the adventures of an [[anthropomorphic]] [[Elizabethan]] [[ship's cat]].


==Plot summary==
==Plot summary==
The Ship's Cat is introduced as a [[patriotic]] [[swashbuckling]] crewmember of the [[England|English]] [[privateer]] ''Alcestis''. After attacking a lone [[Spain|Spanish]] ship, the ''Alcestis'' is defeated by Spanish reinforcements and its crew taken as captives to the [[Panamanian]] port of [[Chagres]]. The Ship's Cat is initially imprisoned, but the [[gaol]]er's daughter takes pity on him and has him released to serve in the gaoler's kitchen. After the gaoler and his companions become drunk celebrating [[Philip the Apostle|Saint Philip's Day]], the Ship's Cat steals the keys to the gaol and releases his shipmates. Together, they steal a ship from the harbor and sail for home, pursued by their erstwhile captors. Their pursuers are frightened off by the sudden appearance of [[Sir Francis Drake]] (outward bound on his global circumnavigation of 1577). After Drake departs, the Ship's Cat reveals that he has discovered a hoard of [[treasure]] in the ship's hold. The crew sail home to England, where they are greeted as heroes and the Cat is [[knight]]ed by [[Elizabeth I of England|Queen Elizabeth I]].
The book follows a ship cat referred to only as "Cat" or "Ship's Cat" who serves as a swashbuckling crew member of the English [[privateer]] ship ''Alcestis''. The ship is eventually attacked by Spanish seamen, who capture the ship and its entire crew, who they take to the [[Panamanian]] port of [[Chagres]]. The cat is also imprisoned, only to be freed by the [[Prison officer|gaoler's]] daughter, who puts him to work in the officer's kitchen. There he waits until he has the perfect opportunity to free his crew. This opportunity arises on [[Philip the Apostle|Saint Philip's Day]], as the gaoler and his friends use it as an excuse to drink until they are very [[Alcohol intoxication|intoxicated]]. The cat frees his shipmates and together they manage to steal a ship, with the intent to sail back to England. Their acts are soon detected by the gaoler and his friends, who give chase until they come across [[Francis Drake|Sir Francis Drake]], who is just starting on his [[Francis Drake|expedition to circumnavigate the globe]]. Free of their pursuers, the cat reveals to the rest of the crew that their stolen ship contained treasure, to the crew's joy. The book ends with the crew returning home, where [[Elizabeth I of England|Queen Elizabeth I]] knights the cat for his [[Courage|valor]].


==Editions==
== Reception ==
The ''West Coast Review of Books'' rated ''The Ship's Cat'' at three stars.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hjAuAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Ship%27s+Cat%22+Adams|title=Review: The Ship's Cat|date=1977-01-01|publisher=West Coast Review of Books/Rapport Publishing Company|language=en}}</ref>
*ISBN 978-0-224-01441-0 (Jonathan Cape Children's Books, 1977, hardcover, first English edition)

*ISBN 0-394-42334-8 ([[Alfred A. Knopf]], 1977, hardcover, first American edition)
==See also==
{{Portal |Children's literature}}
*''The Ship's Cat'' — Novel by [[Jock Brandis]]

==References==
{{reflist}}


{{RichardAdams}}
{{RichardAdams}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Adventures and Brave Deeds of the Ship's Cat on the Spanish Maine}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ship's Cat}}
[[Category:Works by Richard Adams]]
[[Category:Works by Richard Adams]]
[[Category:British literature]]
[[Category:British poems]]
[[Category:British poetry]]
[[Category:British picture books]]
[[Category:British children's picture books]]
[[Category:Children's poetry books]]
⚫
[[Category:Children's poetry]]
[[Category:Narrative poems]]
[[Category:Narrative poems]]
[[Category:1977 poems]]
[[Category:1977 poems]]
[[Category:1977 books]]
[[Category:1977 children's books]]
[[Category:Jonathan Cape books]]
[[Category:Jonathan Cape books]]
[[Category:Fiction set in the 1570s]]
⚫
[[Category:Children's books about cats]]
[[Category:British children's books]]
[[Category:1977 poetry books]]
[[Category:Poems about cats]]

Latest revision as of 23:07, 21 May 2023

The Ship's Cat
First edition cover
AuthorRichard Adams
Original titleThe Adventures & Brave Deeds Of The Ship's Cat On The Spanish Maine: Together With The Most Lamentable Losse Of The Alcestis & Triumphant Firing Of The Port Of Chagres
IllustratorAlan Aldridge
Cover artistAlan Aldridge
LanguageEnglish
Published1977
PublisherJonathan Cape (UK), Alfred A. Knopf (US)
Publication placeUnited Kingdom
Media typePrint (hardcover)
ISBN978-0-224-01441-0 (first edition, UK)

The Ship's Cat, also known under its full title of The Adventures & Brave Deeds Of The Ship's Cat On The Spanish Maine: Together With The Most Lamentable Losse Of The Alcestis & Triumphant Firing Of The Port Of Chagres, is a 1977 children's narrative poem that was written by Richard Adams with illustrations by Alan Aldridge.[1][2] The book was first published through Jonathan Cape and describes the adventures of an anthropomorphic Elizabethan ship's cat.

Plot summary

[edit]

The book follows a ship cat referred to only as "Cat" or "Ship's Cat" who serves as a swashbuckling crew member of the English privateer ship Alcestis. The ship is eventually attacked by Spanish seamen, who capture the ship and its entire crew, who they take to the Panamanian port of Chagres. The cat is also imprisoned, only to be freed by the gaoler's daughter, who puts him to work in the officer's kitchen. There he waits until he has the perfect opportunity to free his crew. This opportunity arises on Saint Philip's Day, as the gaoler and his friends use it as an excuse to drink until they are very intoxicated. The cat frees his shipmates and together they manage to steal a ship, with the intent to sail back to England. Their acts are soon detected by the gaoler and his friends, who give chase until they come across Sir Francis Drake, who is just starting on his expedition to circumnavigate the globe. Free of their pursuers, the cat reveals to the rest of the crew that their stolen ship contained treasure, to the crew's joy. The book ends with the crew returning home, where Queen Elizabeth I knights the cat for his valor.

Reception

[edit]

The West Coast Review of Books rated The Ship's Cat at three stars.[3]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Fanning, Clara Elizabeth; Jackdon, Margaret; Company, H. W. Wilson; Reely, Mary Katharine; James, Mertice May (1 January 1978). The Book review digest: Annual cumulation. The H. W. Wilson company. p. 8. {{cite book}}: |last3= has generic name (help)
  2. ^ Review: The Ship's Cat. The Contemporary Review/A. Strahan. 1 January 1977. p. 335.
  3. ^ Review: The Ship's Cat. West Coast Review of Books/Rapport Publishing Company. 1 January 1977.
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