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The Ship's Cat
The ship's cat is introduced as a patriotic swashbuckling crew member of the English privateer Alcestis. After attacking a lone 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 gaoler'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 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 knighted by Queen Elizabeth I.
The ship's cat is initially imprisoned, but the gaoler'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 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 knighted by Queen Elizabeth I.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published October 6, 1977
About the author
Richard Adams
86 books2,341 followersAdams was born in Newbury, Berkshire. From 1933 until 1938 he was educated at Bradfield College. In 1938 he went up to Worcester College, Oxford to read Modern History. On 3 September 1939 Neville Chamberlain announced that the United Kingdom was at war with Germany. In 1940 Adams joined the British Army, in which he served until 1946. He received a class B discharge enabling him to return to Worcester to continue his studies for a further two years (1946-48). He took the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1948 and of Master of Arts in 1953.
He was a senior civil servant who worked as an Assistant Secretary for the Department of Agriculture, later part of the Department of the Environment, from 1948 to 1974. Since 1974, following publication of his second novel, Shardik, he has been a full-time author.
He originally began telling the story of Watership Down to his two daughters, Juliet and Rosamund, and they insisted he publish it as a book. It took two years to write and was rejected by thirteen publishers. When Watership Down was finally published, it sold over a million copies in record time in both the United Kingdom and the United States. Watership Down has become a modern classic and won both the Carnegie Medal and the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize in 1972. To date, Adams' best-known work has sold over 50 million copies world-wide, earning him more than all his other books put together.
As of 1982, he was President of the RSPCA.
He also contested the 1983 general election, standing as an Independent Conservative in the Spelthorne constituency on a platform of opposition to fox hunting.
He was a senior civil servant who worked as an Assistant Secretary for the Department of Agriculture, later part of the Department of the Environment, from 1948 to 1974. Since 1974, following publication of his second novel, Shardik, he has been a full-time author.
He originally began telling the story of Watership Down to his two daughters, Juliet and Rosamund, and they insisted he publish it as a book. It took two years to write and was rejected by thirteen publishers. When Watership Down was finally published, it sold over a million copies in record time in both the United Kingdom and the United States. Watership Down has become a modern classic and won both the Carnegie Medal and the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize in 1972. To date, Adams' best-known work has sold over 50 million copies world-wide, earning him more than all his other books put together.
As of 1982, he was President of the RSPCA.
He also contested the 1983 general election, standing as an Independent Conservative in the Spelthorne constituency on a platform of opposition to fox hunting.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 2, 2020
With rather striking illustrations by Alan Aldridge, Richard Adams' tale of the ship's cat follows the fortunes of a fighting ship's cat as the Alcestis sails to take on and plunder the Spanish in Queen Elizabeth I's reign.
Written in verse (there are 26 of them) the book tells of how the Alcestis met and fought two Spanish ships and how the ship's cat and the English sailors were taken and imprisoned. They were taken to Chagres and marched through the town where the ship's cat attacked the Governor's escort 'And clawed him in his swarthy face/Until the rascal bled.'
Imprisoned again the cat inveigled himself into the gaoler's favour before knocking him flat, taking the keys and freeing his shipmates. 'Hurrah for English bravery' they cried and took to a Spanish ship to escape with the ship's cat in the lead. They espied another Spanish ship , 'approaching under sail', and made haste to flee. Then they spotted Plymouth-rigged masts and cried, 'It's Frankie Drake, it's Drake is here.'
The Spanish pinnace 'sheered away' and the crew of the Pasha and the Swan discovered that the other Spanish ship was under the command of sailor's from the Alcestis. And when they learnt that it was full of pearls and gold it was sent on its way to England where the cat sent 20 sacks of pearls inscribed 'To Merrie England's Queene, Fairer than any star.'
For his valiant efforts our ship's cat was honoured as Sir Tom de Chat and he lived out his days in the 'jocund Berkshire vale'.
It is a rollicking tale, beautifully told and beautifully illustrated.
Written in verse (there are 26 of them) the book tells of how the Alcestis met and fought two Spanish ships and how the ship's cat and the English sailors were taken and imprisoned. They were taken to Chagres and marched through the town where the ship's cat attacked the Governor's escort 'And clawed him in his swarthy face/Until the rascal bled.'
Imprisoned again the cat inveigled himself into the gaoler's favour before knocking him flat, taking the keys and freeing his shipmates. 'Hurrah for English bravery' they cried and took to a Spanish ship to escape with the ship's cat in the lead. They espied another Spanish ship , 'approaching under sail', and made haste to flee. Then they spotted Plymouth-rigged masts and cried, 'It's Frankie Drake, it's Drake is here.'
The Spanish pinnace 'sheered away' and the crew of the Pasha and the Swan discovered that the other Spanish ship was under the command of sailor's from the Alcestis. And when they learnt that it was full of pearls and gold it was sent on its way to England where the cat sent 20 sacks of pearls inscribed 'To Merrie England's Queene, Fairer than any star.'
For his valiant efforts our ship's cat was honoured as Sir Tom de Chat and he lived out his days in the 'jocund Berkshire vale'.
It is a rollicking tale, beautifully told and beautifully illustrated.
February 7, 2017
It was the sad death of Richard Adams that alerted me to this book. As a childhood fan of his work, why had I not heard of this one? Me being a fan of cats and pirates?
Anyway, I found out that this was out of print but managed to get a second-hand copy. Even if the story was rubbish the wonderful illustrations (by Alan Aldridge) would be enough. There was a place on my bookshelf for this!
It is written in verse and set in the Golden Age of piracy during the Elizabethan period. There are references to the Spanish Inquisition and 'Greensleeves' making the poem very authentic (!) There are battles and violence with the spirit of the British bulldog. The Ship's Cat ain't no pussycat.
There is an old fashioned style to it with the cat being a rather swashbuckling hero. It is an exciting yarn and I wish I had read it as a child because I would have loved it. Actually, I still do.
Anyway, I found out that this was out of print but managed to get a second-hand copy. Even if the story was rubbish the wonderful illustrations (by Alan Aldridge) would be enough. There was a place on my bookshelf for this!
It is written in verse and set in the Golden Age of piracy during the Elizabethan period. There are references to the Spanish Inquisition and 'Greensleeves' making the poem very authentic (!) There are battles and violence with the spirit of the British bulldog. The Ship's Cat ain't no pussycat.
There is an old fashioned style to it with the cat being a rather swashbuckling hero. It is an exciting yarn and I wish I had read it as a child because I would have loved it. Actually, I still do.
September 19, 2009
For the love of Mike, why is this one out of print? Written by Richard Adams, author of Watership Down, and sumptuously illustrated by Alan Aldridge, who did art for The Beatles, this contains the swashbuckling story of an English cat on the high seas. The language is very challenging (a lot of Old English involved) but don't let that stop you from sharing this with your favorite kid(or adult for that matter).
January 19, 2009
Illustrated by Alan Aldridge. A beautifully illustrated adventure story with poetry to fire the imagination. This is, perhaps, not recommended if your loyalties in the 16th century were with the Spanish in their wars with the English. The cat is an English cat.
This is one of my most beloved books as a child.
This is one of my most beloved books as a child.
February 24, 2016
I have had this book since 1978... a gift from my parents. I have loved looking at the pictures and have loved the poetry style story since I was a kid... I've read it many, many times, but I just read it to my daughter for the first time and she loved it...
May 27, 2021
Beautifully illustrated story, quite different from what I anticipated, with some political undertones, however I suspect as a British reader I wouldn't have had those thoughts. The language is really beautiful and some of the rhymes made me smile because of how clever they were. Also, as a non native speaker but a master of English Studies, I got to learn some new vocabulary (not that I anticipate using it in real life but still that's my idea of fun). I'll surely reread it many times to fully enjoy the rhythm and both authors' talent.
January 24, 2019
Beautifully illustrated, particularly the prison page opposite stanzas XI and XII, where the placing of the windows, arch, mice and cat can be perceived to form a skull shape. Lovely poetry and swashbuckling fun as well. I had this as a child and loved looking at the pictures.
May 26, 2024
Wonderful illustrations and satisfying but hard to read couplets.
The artwork reminded me of some of Patrick Woodroffe's whimsical stuff which, i suppose, is what attracted me to the book in the first place.
The artwork reminded me of some of Patrick Woodroffe's whimsical stuff which, i suppose, is what attracted me to the book in the first place.
January 20, 2024
Absolutely gorgeous artwork, but I really couldn't get into the poem/tale itself.
January 11, 2020
Beautiful poetry laid over beautiful illustrations. A swashbuckling adventure told through delicate prose. As a kid, it inspired me to search out more poetry and learn about the history surrounding the events in the book.
October 28, 2012
The art in this is seriously stunning. The poem throughout is fun, but perhaps a little difficult for little kids, still the whole work is magical, and as a piece it is transcendent of its form. If I'd had this as a child I would have spent hours poring through this.
December 7, 2008
I can't remember when I was given this book, but it's still on my shelf now, in my living room. It's a beautiful, visceral, swashbuckling poem, and Alan Aldridge's illustrations are breathtaking.
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January 14, 2013Poetry
March 5, 2015
Great story with amazing illustrations; although, the verse writing is a little inaccessible for younger readers.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews