Faber & Faber

In the first of a new regular feature, Robert Brown, Faber's Archive Director, reveals three of his own favourite books from the Faber Archive. As you can see, his choices have a very feline theme ...

Faber Books: Autumn & Winter (1951)

An elegant drawing of the entrance to Faber’s Russell Square offices by Margaret Wolpe adorns the front cover, but the back features a small silhouette of a very fine black cat. 

A special Faber publicity statement explained that this was Cat Morgan, ‘the Faber & Faber cat’ (subsequently added to Old Possum) who is shown ‘advancing to take up his favourite seat, cuddled up against and protected by the door scraper’.

‘He has for some time been much interested in the re-building and re-decorating of the two Faber buildings, for he was present when the flying bomb, which did so much damage, landed just across the road in Russell Square.

Many who have been attracted by Morgan, obviously an animal of great character, have asked for information about him. We felt it impertinent to supply such data ourselves. One of the firm’s directors, having a special affection for Morgan, who comforted him during the trying nights of fire-watching, offered to approach Morgan personally about his lives, and Morgan, with some show of affected diffidence, handed him the following a few days ago. 

We were astonished to find the biographical notice written in verse, but perhaps this is not surprising if one considers the literary atmosphere in which he has passed so much of his life, and the many visiting poets at whose feet he has sat.’

Millions of Cats (1929) by Wanda Ga’g

Faber’s first-ever children’s book. Beautifully illustrated by the author and an exemplary folktale (Cats = Big Trouble).

More on Wanda Ga'g

Catch that Cat: A Picture Book of Rhymes and Puzzles (1990) by Moniker Beisner

Another classic, sixty years on, at the height of Faber’s flirtation with full-colour feline printing. It is the age of 'The Patchwork Cat' after all.