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Rubaiyat of a Persian Kitten
A humorous illustrated parody of Omar Khayyam's Rubaiyat follows a mischievous Persian kitten on a series of escapades.
84 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1904
1 person is currently reading
107 people want to read
About the author
Oliver Herford
184 books10 followersOliver Herford (1863–1935) was a British-born American writer, artist and illustrator who has been called "The American Oscar Wilde". His family immigrated to Chicago, Illinois when he was twelve, then moved on to Boston seven years later. After schooling back in England and in Ohio, he settled in New York City with his wife Margaret Regan, where he became the writer, illustrator, and poet.
As a frequent contributor to The Mentor, Life, and Ladies' Home Journal, he sometimes signed his artwork as "O Herford". In 1906 he wrote and illustrated the Little Book of Bores. He also wrote short poems like The Chimpanzee and The Hen, as well as writing and illustrating The Rubaiyat of a Persian Kitten (1904) and Excuse It Please (1930). His sister Beatrice Herford was also a humorist.
Ethel Mumford and Addison Mizner wrote a small book The Cynic's Calendar of Revised Wisdom for 1903 as a Christmas present and added Herford's name as an author as a joke. The printer made up more copies to sell and to everyone's surprise it was an astounding success. When Herford found out about it he wanted 90% of the royalties. He was awarded an equal third.
As a frequent contributor to The Mentor, Life, and Ladies' Home Journal, he sometimes signed his artwork as "O Herford". In 1906 he wrote and illustrated the Little Book of Bores. He also wrote short poems like The Chimpanzee and The Hen, as well as writing and illustrating The Rubaiyat of a Persian Kitten (1904) and Excuse It Please (1930). His sister Beatrice Herford was also a humorist.
Ethel Mumford and Addison Mizner wrote a small book The Cynic's Calendar of Revised Wisdom for 1903 as a Christmas present and added Herford's name as an author as a joke. The printer made up more copies to sell and to everyone's surprise it was an astounding success. When Herford found out about it he wanted 90% of the royalties. He was awarded an equal third.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
August 31, 2020
Adorable and wise--like a Persian kitten, or any kitten or cat. Share it with your favorite feline(s).
February 10, 2022
If Idle Talk thou Love'st of This and That
And Hold that Aught Delights as does a Cat
If Persian Kittens also make Thee Purr
Read Herford's Tribute to the Rubaiyat.
And Hold that Aught Delights as does a Cat
If Persian Kittens also make Thee Purr
Read Herford's Tribute to the Rubaiyat.
March 14, 2015
The rhymes are precious, the illustrations are adorable, the kitten's adventures are true to life. I enjoyed this little book by the man who was called (according to GR) 'the American Oscar Wilde'. Whether that is true or not, I will leave to more scholarly reviewers. Meanwhile, I'm going to read this Rubaiyat a few more times.
January 13, 2018
This came in as a hold at the library and being a cat person I had to look through it. What a cute little book of kitten poems! I'm probably missing the parody aspect since I haven't read the original Rubaiyat, but I sort of get it, since the drama of the verses coupled with the cute kitten illustrations makes for an amusing contrast. Then again, cats ARE pretty dramatic. If they could write poetry, it might be a lot like this.
One of my favorites:
'Twas that reviving Herb, that Spicy Weed,
The Cat-Nip. Tho' 'tis good in times of need,
Ah, feed upon it lightly, for who knows
To what unlovely antics it may lead.
ETA: I found a poem-for-poem guide to the parody, and it's amazing. I appreciate this book even more now. http://www.oldfashionedamericanhumor....
One of my favorites:
'Twas that reviving Herb, that Spicy Weed,
The Cat-Nip. Tho' 'tis good in times of need,
Ah, feed upon it lightly, for who knows
To what unlovely antics it may lead.
ETA: I found a poem-for-poem guide to the parody, and it's amazing. I appreciate this book even more now. http://www.oldfashionedamericanhumor....
July 5, 2017
This was just one of the books recently acquired a few months ago and was just laying on the floor. Like a ball of yarn it caught my eye while I picked it up then started flipping through the pages then before you know it I was reading it even though my reading list is quite behind at this moment from what I was expecting.
Anyway the illustrations are charming and quite simple yet catch the true spirit of the little kitten. Richly detailed they show the journey our small kitten protagonist takes within his life as he slips through a world of "catness" that we humans surely lack beauty of.
At the same time the author has done a great job in catching the journey of the kitten in beautiful rhyming poetry. The verses are simple and easily combined to bring a bit of a philosophical flair to the adventures a kitten faces in the giant world around it while also at the same time giving a beauty to that same world that is being explored by both kitten and reader alike.
All in all a great book for those who are interested in kittens and/or poetry. Even the cat-lover may find the story a tongue-in-cheek treasure to enjoy.
Anyway the illustrations are charming and quite simple yet catch the true spirit of the little kitten. Richly detailed they show the journey our small kitten protagonist takes within his life as he slips through a world of "catness" that we humans surely lack beauty of.
At the same time the author has done a great job in catching the journey of the kitten in beautiful rhyming poetry. The verses are simple and easily combined to bring a bit of a philosophical flair to the adventures a kitten faces in the giant world around it while also at the same time giving a beauty to that same world that is being explored by both kitten and reader alike.
All in all a great book for those who are interested in kittens and/or poetry. Even the cat-lover may find the story a tongue-in-cheek treasure to enjoy.
January 31, 2009
A beautiful book of poetry concerning the life of a mischievous Persian kitten. Though considered a children's book of poetry, I can't imagine many children completely understanding the poems. Not in this day and age anyhow...
It was originally published in 1904, I believe, and each page has an illustration of the adorable kitten, and a short poem about his next adventure.
Here is a taste of poetic tale of the Persian Kitten:
"What if the Sole could fling the Ice aside,
And with me to some Area's haven glide -
Were't not a Shame, were't
not a shame for it
In this Cold Prison crippled to abide?"
It was originally published in 1904, I believe, and each page has an illustration of the adorable kitten, and a short poem about his next adventure.
Here is a taste of poetic tale of the Persian Kitten:
"What if the Sole could fling the Ice aside,
And with me to some Area's haven glide -
Were't not a Shame, were't
not a shame for it
In this Cold Prison crippled to abide?"
January 31, 2015
Very cute.
June 17, 2021
Kitty as a philosopher!
And the best things in life are free, including this delightful essay if you have a kindle.
You KNOW what that cat is going to do.
So sad too..."I sometimes think the Pussy-Willows grey
Are Angel Kittens who have lost their way,
And every Bulrush on the river bank
A Cat-Tail from some lovely Cat astray."
And the best things in life are free, including this delightful essay if you have a kindle.
You KNOW what that cat is going to do.
So sad too..."I sometimes think the Pussy-Willows grey
Are Angel Kittens who have lost their way,
And every Bulrush on the river bank
A Cat-Tail from some lovely Cat astray."
January 19, 2026
Beautiful little book with lovely poems and illustrations.
February 15, 2022
পড়বেন সিরিয়াস রুবাইয়াত হিসেবে, তারপর নীচের ইলাস্ট্রেশান দেখবেন আর ভাববেন একটা বেড়ালের বাচ্চা লিখেছে।
তারপর হো হো করে হেসে উঠবেন।
তারপর পুনরাবৃত্তি।
তারপর হো হো করে হেসে উঠবেন।
তারপর পুনরাবৃত্তি।
November 1, 2022
Okey sumpah comel buku kanak-kanak ni, lagipula buku ini terhasil inspirasi daripada kucing parsi milik penulis dan pelukis buku ini.
Pengkisahannya dalam bentuk puisi (sajak, barangkali). Ringkas, tapi cukup menggambarkan kisah hidup seekor kucing parsi berwarna putih-kelabu. Setiap kenakalan, aktiviti dan sifat ingin tahu (sepertimana ungkapan curiosity kills the cat) itu memang pastinya akan ramai tersenyum, terutama bagi mereka yang pencinta kucing.
Nakal. Hahaha! Lagi-lagi pada babak si kucing parsi itu menolak botol dakwat dengan sengaja hingga tumpah, lalu dia cepat-cepat melarikan diri dan berlagak seperti tidak melakukan apa-apa kesalahan.
Ada satu puisinya agak kelakar:
Tho' two and two make four by rule of line,
Or they make twenty-two by logic fine,
Of all the figures one may fathom,
I shall never be floored by anything but nine.
Pengkisahannya dalam bentuk puisi (sajak, barangkali). Ringkas, tapi cukup menggambarkan kisah hidup seekor kucing parsi berwarna putih-kelabu. Setiap kenakalan, aktiviti dan sifat ingin tahu (sepertimana ungkapan curiosity kills the cat) itu memang pastinya akan ramai tersenyum, terutama bagi mereka yang pencinta kucing.
Nakal. Hahaha! Lagi-lagi pada babak si kucing parsi itu menolak botol dakwat dengan sengaja hingga tumpah, lalu dia cepat-cepat melarikan diri dan berlagak seperti tidak melakukan apa-apa kesalahan.
Ada satu puisinya agak kelakar:
Tho' two and two make four by rule of line,
Or they make twenty-two by logic fine,
Of all the figures one may fathom,
I shall never be floored by anything but nine.
October 19, 2020
This was a super-cute little spoof on the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. Very adorable, and worth having on the shelf for when you need a moment of adorableness.
January 3, 2015
Such a cute book about... Hafiz? :3 The Persian kitten and his adventures poetically recorded.
September 9, 2015
https://ia802703.us.archive.org/0/ite...
Free to read online
Free to read online
September 28, 2016
A humorous illustrated parody of Omar Khayyam's Rubaiyat follows a mischievous Persian kitten on a series of escapades.
The Rubáiyát of a Persian Kitten
by Oliver Herford
The Rubáiyát of a Persian Kitten
by Oliver Herford
February 2, 2017
Bought on recommendation during a (slightly Boozy) NYE dinner.
All I can say is that I'm glad it was very cheap...
All I can say is that I'm glad it was very cheap...
March 11, 2017
Makes me miss my silly cat.
January 23, 2019
Utterly delightful, fluffy - twice over because kitten pictures - and an excellent comfort read.
June 30, 2019
Loved it.
August 4, 2019
Bought at a used book store. Delightful.
November 14, 2019
A delightful romp through the life of a kitten, illustrated beautifully.
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February 7, 2020Hahahaha this is so cute and adorable. I’m probably biased because I have a Persian kitten.
March 13, 2020
Adorable!
December 31, 2023
Looking for quick books to read at the end of the year to bump up my reading count, and my friend gave me several!
Really great illustrations. Love that the cat tells its tale in iambic pentameter. Wish I knew whether I had ever read the original and whether the cat's story is a parody or an homage. Planning to read it in the new year!
Really great illustrations. Love that the cat tells its tale in iambic pentameter. Wish I knew whether I had ever read the original and whether the cat's story is a parody or an homage. Planning to read it in the new year!
November 6, 2020
From my antique small book collection. Original 1904 edition purchased in Asheville North Carolina. Art work on every other page - very cute story!
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December 29, 2021I'm so glad I stumbled upon this little book at the bookstore the other day.
January 13, 2025
do yourself a favor and read about this tiny little cat i pinky promise she will not disappoint
April 15, 2017
It is a very cute little take off the poem "The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam". The rhymes are cute and the viewpoint of this kitten is very unique. The illustrations are all in dark grays and a yellow/green background. I was not thrilled with the coloring of these but they are well done. Great little gift book for anyone that likes cats.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews